Over a week -

Hello blog reader - yes about a week has past and well there just not been any minitia that I have wanted to share. I thought I would check in and say hi, let you know all is well with me. I am looking forward to going to my mom's for the Thanksgiving holiday. She is hosted Ernie and his parents too - which is going to be a lot of fun. I have a couple of projects that I am working on and will share more once I have everything in place.

I leave you with this thought for Thanksgiving!

A hard decision

A lot of people happen upon this blog in search of this blog - http://bradbenefiel.blog.com/. It is with great sadness in my heart that Brad passed away last night. His wonderful wife did everything (EVERYTHING) humanly possible to make sure that Brad received treatment and care and she suffered for 18 months on what to do. She had to make horrible decisions and carry out horrible wishes. I can't even begin to imagine the pain she is in or has been in.

I know that Brad is in a better place - I know that he would want his wife and children to move on and pick up the pieces - I know that love does not die!

But I also know that a lot of prayers are needed to get this family through this.

Good bye friend!

Vote - tomorrow - VOTE!

Tomorrow is a wonderful day for the history of our country - either party will be bringing something new and exciting to the White House!

My women friends especially - it was not until 1920 that women received the right to vote! Our grandmothers - ok maybe great grandmothers fought a long hard dirty battle for us to have the right. Do them proud tomorrow - don't take it for granted!!! No matter which party you choose - make your pretty little voice heard!!

This is an outrage!!!

Washington Post reveals that Tysons Corner Center has fired Santa! The real one! He has worked at this mall for 18 years and then poof - he is replaced despite a contract until the year 2012. What the Wahington Post does not mention but that you find out in the Washington Times is that he has hired a lawyer and a PR firm to get his job back and his money. Oh and he makes $175.00 an hour - the mall alleges that is 10x the going rate - that means someone is doing it for $17.50 an hour.

Wow - hard times are falling on everyone.

PS - I called the mall office to verify the story and spoke with Anna Northcutt - she vaguely said the story was true - she said they legally notified Santa that he was out of a job. The thing I forgot to tell her was "You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

Read the story here .

I'd rather not talk about it

I like to update my blog at least twice a week - once talking about the weekend and once talking about some random fascinating thing during the week. So my last update was Tuesday - here goes.

Tuesday, Wed, thursday - I worked, ate, slept all just great stuff.

Friday was terrible - it's work related. It's the state of our economy, our financial markets, blah blah blah related. But the matter is these are my friends that are affected - my really good friends, people I have known for years. People I will miss a lot - a lot.

Saturday and Sunday - I spent a lot of time in bed, just literally dreading today. We watched movies (nothing good), I read some, I stared out the window at the pretty fall weather.

and now today is here - and so am I. and the rest I just don't want to talk about

Weekend with my mom

Late Wednesday night, my mom called to see if I had plans for the weekend and would I like for her to come for the weekend. Her next door neighbor was coming to U of M to see her daughter - also named Meghan. My mom arrived about 8:00 or so Friday night. We unpacked her bags, she had brought down lots of fruits and veggies and groceries from New Jersey. Around 10, I was exhausted but my mom wasn't so I gave her a whole pile of books to read.

Saturday morning we were up and out early for a day of bargain shopping. There was a yard sale advertised in Bethesda for a clothes addict - there were a lot fof clothes and jewelry but unfortunately not quite anything for us. We hit a few more in Bethesda and then headed to Olney. I ended the yard sales with a christmas book (.10), the book tuesdays with morrie (.10), some new toiletries and such (17.00),

We then headed to Gaithersburg to go to a consignment shop that I had found on the internet. It was amazing - they had so much nice stuff - all good designers, all in perfect shape, and well all priced accordingly. They had the Louie bag that I have been dying for - it retails for $1000 for $650.00 - yes a good price but $650.00 is still more than my car payment. I did not end up purchasing anything from the store but I do intend to visit again. We hit another consignment shop that we stumbled upon by accident and I did get a Lilly P cardigan sweater in bright pink (will look adorable with my vera bradley pink pinwheel collection).

Back in Laurel, we went to my usual thrift store - it was packed both with people and with merchandise. I got a gorgeous cotton rayon sweater brand new with the theory tag still on it that says retail $195.00 for $6.98, some men's origins products, and a magazine. I normally go there on Monday's but I think I will have to go there through out the week. This was the store where I scored the Daring Book for Girls for $1.30. I know someone that works there and she says they don't put new stuff out on Sunday's and Mondays so a good day to go is Tuesday. And I swear when I say their merchandise is always changing.

We pretty much relaxed the rest of the day. My mom did me a huge favor and hemmed a pair of pants for me. Ernie went to the grocery store and got a great deal on steaks and cooked dinner for mom and me - which was a great treat.

My mom headed out about 3 on Sunday and I swear I laid on the couch the rest of the day.

It was a great weekend.

Randomness

Shay Shay tagged me again! This time wanting to know 5 random things about me.


1. First, there is nothing random about me - my tongue does not touch my nose, my ears do not wiggle, I have not competed in any crazy contests, I am not in the Guiness Book of World Records, I have only been to - I am Randomly challenged.

2. Wait - I thought of something - about 5 years ago - I took a class to learn how to shoot a gun. You know in the movies where the girl fights and gets the gun away from the guy and then doesn't know what to do with it - I did not want to be that girl - so I learned a little about guns - not sure how much I remember.

3. I don't have cable (therefore no channels at all) at my house - I gave it up in March of 2007 and I have never looked back. I rent movies from Redbox, I can watch some TV shows on the internet - but it is on my terms - so one Saturday I might watch a whole season of a show while scrapbooking.

4. Twice in the last 5 years I have grown my hair over 10 inches with the purpose of cutting it and donating it to locks of love. It is not totally altruistic - I am really just lazy when it comes to getting hair cuts.

5. I participated in a colon cancer march in washington DC and walked 40 miles in 2 days raising over $3000 for colon cancer research - Ethan Zahn from Survivor also particpated. It was what my dad died of and I wanted to make a difference.

Wheh - it was hard work to think of stuff - I guess I will have to make it a goal to be more random!

I now tag Mel, Peg, Heather and anyone else that reads this and wants to share! Niki - your blog is already the defination of random!

PS - I remembered one more thing - I went to the Miss America Pagent one year in Atlantic City. It was the last year that it was televised. Our seats were way far away but it was cool to say that we did it once.

PPS - I have sat in the front row at a major concert at least 5 times, Tim McGraw, Madonna, Faith Hill/Tim McGraw, Dixie Chicks, and Sugarland! Only madonna would not let me bring my camera.

My gazpacho recipe!

When I first got my kitchenaid blender/food processor gadget (which I love by the way) it came with a little recipe book. In there was a simple gazpacho recipe. Since tomotoes are plentiful in MD and NJ, gazpacho was a practical use. The thing I have learned through trial error and frustration is blenders need liquid in order to work properly - so you need to add tomotoe juice or V8 but if you aren't going to add that - for a thicker gazpacho then just make in the food processor.

Loosely - my recipe this time was tomotoes 3 large ones and ripe!, 1 cucumber (no skin) , 1 onion, 1 jalopeno, whirrred in the food processor. Then some oil (i have been using sesame oil lately for salads and such because pioneer woman told me too and she knows good cooking) and some wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and then the secret to all yummy cooking - Spike.

Do you know about Spike? Spike is an all natural seasoning that just makes everything more yummy - I use the salt free one. It is good on veggies, meats, deviled eggs, scrambled eggs, and gazpacho!

The great thing about gazpacho is you can make as much or as little as you want and if you have other veggies you can add them too. I think carrots or celery would give it good crunch. Lots of people add green and red peppers but raw they don't agree with me that well.

Now this summer, I went to Jaleo, you know the tappas place in Bethesda and they do a gazpacho sampler platter of 4 of them, one was white and one was green, I can't remember the other two and they are strained so no chunks and that was not really my thing. But they have a whole bunch of other stuff that is really yummy. But the gazpachos were really pretty to look at.

Up and at 'em!

Good monday morning! Good weekend! Friday night (which right now seems days ago) I went to a Silpada party at my friend Robin's house. I had gotten the catalog a few weeks ago and marked all the pages of stuff I loved and had a tough time narrowing it down but finally decided on a pearl and black number - I think it will look great with my winter clothes! Ernie went to dinner with his parents - his Mom cooked at the Moose and he was a happy boy (he loves his momma's cooking - lucky for me she is always willing to share recipes!)

Saturday morning, he was up EARLY for work, so I got a good start on yard sales. I hit Piney Orchard Community sale and it was packed - with sellers and buyers! I only picked up a few things, this tin heart thing, some books. Next was over to Savage, where my friend Melissa was selling stuff at her church - well every church in Savage was having a sale so it took me a while to find her. Few things there, a DVD (Secondhand Lions - if you have never seen it - you should it is cute) and some picture frames I plan to alter. Last stop was a community sale in Laurel where I bombed - not one thing I needed. I came home, slept, read, ate and played on the computer. Ernie come home beat - to let him sleep - I went out to Savage Mills (needed to drop off a card for Patti), drugstore and groceries. Came home made dinner, relaxed and went to bed early.

Sunday, Ernie and I went to the farmers market and then the Columbia Mall - I have sort of fallen into a Vera Bradley thing. All my friends know I love pink and green - sbers know it is because of CE, and non sbers just think it is my own obsession. Well last year for my birthday I got a Vera Bradley bag (huge) in Pink Pinwheel from my boss (well actually his lovely wife picked it out for me) and a matching beach towel. My friend Luann had picked up the umbrella for me. So I thought well, I have this nice lovely set, I might as well get a small bag (you know to hold all the essentials that could get lost in the big bag. So I went to the mall yesterday to check out the pieces and picked up a cosmetic bag and the pocket folio - I loved it a pad of paper and a place for coupons - I plan to use it more for the slips of paper you pick up. But I really need to the wristlet - of course the store I was in did not have it. So now I have a small pink pinwheel Vera Bradley obsession. How cute will I look on a rainy day at the beach!

Last night I made gazpacho - I love gazpacho! I like mine with little bits of veggies - no straining for me. Also made a really good salad. And finished off the day with some raw cookie dough. Before I went to sleep, I was complaining my stomach hurt - then I thought of the crazy foods I had eaten all day and thought well no wonder!

Fun weekend - filled with fun shopping! And up early this morning - even washed two loads of clothes and cleaned up the kitchen. Of course I forgot to take dinner out of the freezer!

My summer reading list...

This summer I read 18 books! I think that is a lot. I always had a book going and I read just about every night. This was the summer I found Jodi Piccoult. I started the summer reading Change of Heart which was amazing. Also by Jodi I read Nineteen Minutes, Picture Perfect and Vanishing Acts - all good but not like Change of Heart.

I also read Three Weeks with my Brother by Nicholas Sparks - which I loved - it is a memoir and learning so much about a man that writes truly great love stories was so intriging. Which led to a whole Nicholas phase, Nights in Rodanthe (I did not even know that a movie was coming?), A Bend in the Road, & The Rescue.

It is not summer with out a few trashy ones - Pink Slip, How to Sleep with a Movie Star. Belly Laughs by jenny McCarthy - I wanted to love it because I have always liked her - I HATED IT. A little mystery with Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich.

One that was surprising was Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld - that a man could so clearly understand a young girls psyche - it was fascinating.

Another surprising author that I found and really enjoyed is Alexander McCall Smith with No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and The Kalahari Typing School for Men. The dialect was hard to understand but in the end I liked that I had to work a little harder to become absorbed in them.

One thought provoking one that I already blogged about was The Next Thing on My List. I finally read the five people you meet in heaven and found that soo interesting and so thought provoking.

I finished the summer with The Daring Book for Girls. If you have a 10 year old daughter get her this book - it is filled with information that every girl should know.

All of this reading has made me really want to join a Book Club - does anyone know of a book club looking for members or one that I could just try for a month? Does anyone else want to maybe start a Book Club?

A tag? Where? Who? Me?

I was tagged by Shannon the other day which was very sweet of her. I procrastinated replying cause I thought I had to do a whole bunch of html code etc - and well you don't - cut and paste and voila!

I am supposed to tag 7 more people. But I seriously follow 16 blogs - remember a couple of weeks ago I wanted something that would check blogs for updates and then let me know about updates. Well blogger evidently has that - I AM IN LOVE WITH IT AND WANT TO MARRY IT. It forces me to log in (and maybe even write something myself) and then I can see who else has updated.

I'll tag any blog that updates frequently and has photos - something I lack!

Motivated!

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to meet and hear Mike Lipkin and his great motivational speech entitled One Life, One Meeting. The premise is improving how engaged you are in each meeting and elevating your listening with the goal being having everyone win and reach their goals.

The one question that was asked of me was "What percent of the time are you at your personal best?" I am pretty sure he said at work. I had described that time as enthusiastic. I thought about it - I was in the room with all of my co-workers and supervisors. My answer was less than 20%. Just one day a week. And how much of that time are you miserable. about the same and the rest I am just showing up. It was hard to admit that but harder to be dishonest. Mike (the speaker - were like that now - on first name basis) asked my co-workers if it were true and they agreed. That interaction has been on my mind the rest of the week.

People - always say what would you do if you knew you could not fail. Stay at home in my jammies sounds so pathetic?

The rest of his conversation (that's what it was - it was not a speech) was just as thought provoking. He had a way of drawing you out without you feeling as though you were on the spot. I highly recommend hearing Mike speak if you ever have the chance. And I leave you with this thought - "when the fire goes out, that is when the predators come in."

Summer of 08 - Goes out with a bang!!

So I finished off the summer of 08 with a great great weekend.

Friday - Ernie was due to work a 24 hour shift and I had lots of fun plans (keep reading) so Diesel went to his grandparents for the weekend! After work, I picked up some stuff that I had gotten from Freecycle (always cool to get something for free that you need or want!) I got one of those metal scalp massager thingies only this one vibrates. LOVE. Then I stopped and got a pedicure it had been months since my last one so this was needed. Headed to the grocery - where I picked up some ingredients to make these. I found it at Amy's magazine . If you do not read Amy's magazine then you are totally missing out on all that is cool in the crafting world. I substituted spearmint leaves for the coconut cause I am not a fan of coconut in foods (suntan lotion, yes - pina colada, yes - food NO) and also I forgot the sesame seeds (that is what you get when you shop from memory. I spent about 2 hours putting them together because this was my first attempt. I took them to the _ _ _ _ (keep reading) Saturday and they were a hit.

Saturday morning - I was up at 5:30, getting ready, getting the car packed and getting out the door for a fun filled Saturday. First on the agenda the Yard Sale at the Bowie Stadium. There I scored so much good stuff!! Biggest excitement was 5 pieces of my mom's china not place settings but serving pieces all for $25.00 (I made a very rookie mistake and one piece is chipped (BAD) I don't know how I missed it - I think because I never see her china I was so excited I forgot to check for the obvious) I am saving it for Christmas (so don't tell her) I also got some books - Janet Evanovich's new one, and Martha's halloween one, and a new pocketbook for me. SO much good stuff - my arms were killing me from carrying it all. I did not leave there until 9:45 so I headed to the crop. I got to Parville about 10:30 so had 30 minutes to hit the yardsales there. But there was a flea market up there - a big one at the Putty Hill Park. I walked around there and only found a few things. Needless to say I was a little late getting to the crop. When I arrived, I had to go to the bathroom and I was dying of thirst but I still managed to hit the swap table first. I picked up a few things - Kathy V was cleaning out big time and had a lot of great bargains. The crop itself was fun fun fun as usual. It is always great to catch up with everyone, see new projects and ideas and hopfully get something done. I had a list of about 5 things to work on and got to about 3. I got home and was pooped.

Sunday, I already blogged about my morning and a great new blog I had found.

In the afternoon, Ernie and I went to the Sunday in the Country concert featuring Sugarland. It was awesome - It looks like she was singing right to me right - yes we were in the front row. I love all of their songs and had really hoped to get a chance to see them in concert.

It was every bit as good as I had hoped. Since it was in Columbia, the concert ended a little before 8 and we had taken the Harley so we were home in a jiffy! Before bed, I got into a Janet E book at stayed up way too late reading especially when Pop brought Diesel home at 5:00am.

A great weekend and a great way to end the summer! Now as we head into fall, I look forward to lots more great times.

Just met a cool, creative gal

and I want to introduce her to all of you.

Background: this morning I woke up with a sore back and since I am going to a concert today, I needed to pop some pills and lay with the heating pad. Which once I checked emails, ebay, and my blog for comments led to some surfing. I then met Linda after I had saved several of her pictures for referring to - I knew I had to share her creativity. Maybe you all know her already. Her scrapbook pages are gorgeous and I look that I would love to try. Two things about her pages that spoke to me - she has children over the age of 20 and she uses some older photos (black and whites and those early color shots that are grainy) I love those. THEN there are her 3D projects which are amazingly gorgeous - they do not look handmade at all. To me they are phenonemal.

I really like her music choices too - they are songs I probably never would have heard. I feel as though I was just invited into her home and she had some candles lit and she made me a cup of tea and she had some music playing and we had a conversation. And she shared some of her creavity with me. It was a wonderful feeling.

I am going to try to add music to my blog - in engages another sense - and makes it feel so much more personal. I am just loving meeting Linda this morning - I think I will get back to her - maybe she will magically pull something out of the oven for us to share.

Some scrapbook pages

I have been trying to upload some scrapbook pages all week and every time the upload sideways (it is really annoying me) I finally got these two to work. These are from a SEI 8.5 by 5.5 album that I have been doing using the pictures of me from when I was little. The size really works well for the smaller size photos that are now 28 years old.

This page - the photo is from my Sweet 16 - a mere 19 years ago. I cased the design from some magazine somewhere - I think Cathy Z. I am pleased with the way these turned out. The other ones (the sideways loading ones) those could use a little help.

I have a fun weekend planned so look for more photos and excitement on Monday. What do you have planned for the weekend??

The only storm I saw was me scrappin' up a storm

So friday all the weather reports called for thunderstorms all weekend around these parts. I thought well that is a good chance for me to do a little scrappin'. Friday night, I settled in, found a good show to watch (Dirty Sexy Money on ABC.com - love the internet for catching shows when I feel like watching) and got out my birthday banner kit from The Button Farm. Got that finished and worked on the Follow Your Bliss - also from The Button Farm. Both turned out so stinkin cute.

Another album/kit/class that I have been working on is the "One Summer"

from Kristy-Sikora-Blankenship or ksb. It it turning out very cute -

but this is the cover - yes I went with very retro

MM letters and well I really am not thrilled with it - Give me

some ideas - what should I do to make it better? I am happy with the little blings on the polka dots but everything else is pooh.

Proud to be an American

Today will forever be one of those days were you reflect on the USA, the world, and your own life. I can distinctly remember so many things about that day. It was a beautiful morning - sun shining. I had pretty much just arrived at work when the radio and internet starting talking about the planes. I came home that night and sat on the couch and watched the news. There just are words to describe the magnitude those events had on our lives. But weirdly, I liked the country that we were in the days following. People put out flags and yellow ribbons. People were a little nicer. We were all so thankful that days started to go by and new tradegies had not occurred. We were working through the pain. Seven years later, we have kind of gone back a little. We are comfortable again. We had other major things happen.

Ernie's little brother is serving - so daily I have a constant reminder that the flags still are flying. That there are yellow ribbons on houses. Ernie misses him so much and it is so hard to have him be away and always worrying that something bad could happen.

On my mind today

This is not even the ride that I rode - Ernie did - he is the one in the last cart!

First things first, I went to Six Flags yesterday and my head is still dizzy. The last ride we went on was this water raft thing - that just spun you around and I swear I have felt dizzy ever since - I am too old for this stuff.

The weekend was the perfect mix for me - Friday night was quiet - Ernie went out and it was just me and Deisel. Saturday morning I hit two small indoor yard sales (not great) but considering tropical storm hanna was blowing into town it was good. I came home just as it started to get bad and walked Deisel. He has gotten into the trash (Bad doggie) while I was gone so I had to walk him - I came in and I was soaked. So I settled into my PJ's and watched some movies, read some magazines, did a lot of scrapbooking, cleaned the house, cooked a peach cobbler, and did laundry. Ernie got home around 9. Sunday we went out to breakfast (Old Country Buffet) - I totally thought I would hate that place - but I love it!! They have a great selection, they have sweet tea and it is pretty cheap! A win for us. We also went to church. Then we went to six flags in the afternoon. That was fun. Except for the spinning.

This past weekend was the third Creative Escape out in Arizona and I have to say I am a little disappointed that I was not there. It seems my friends has a great time. Jessica Guthrie has a great rundown. My dear friend Peg just emailed me an update and showed me her album! I am working on making peace with not attending.

Summer is not over yet...

So my Labor Day weekend was good, laid back, relaxing. Saturday morning I hit yard sales, there weren't that many but I hit one lady who had beautiful clothes, suits, dress pants (yes mar I too am trying to make more of an effort at the office). As I looked thru the rack she had most of the size tags were cut out and when I asked and they were just my size I was so excited!! I got a suit with a shirt that matched, another pant, shirt jacket combo (she had them hanging together like they were an outfit but I just didn't see it), 4 pairs of pants, one shirt, a necklace, and some MK (she was a rep cleaning out some inventory) ALL for $25.00!!!! I was so excited - a good start to my fall wardrobe for less than 1 blouse! I even have one of the outfits on today!! Everything fit except one pair of pants - but I am thinking a little diet and exercise MIGHT help that. The pants all need to be hemmed (anyone local know a place or person to get that done inexpensively???)

Saturday afternoon, I did some card making and scrapping. I also found Lipstick Jungle

on the internet - OOOHH that show is good! I watched the whole season in one day! The clothes the hair their makeup is sooo pretty.

Sunday we went for breakfast with Ernie's parents down to Colonial Beach VA on the Harley. That was a great ride!

Monday - I have been having a lot of back muscle pain lately - I had the best of intentions of getting a ton done on Monday but moving was very painful. Last night I iced it, took some aleve and this morning I put the heating pad on and it feels better. I need to get it looked into but my track record with doctors fixing my problems is just so low.

Now, on to news for you my faithful readers!! I had 53 comments last month (20% of those from M*J*C and 20% from Niki - thanks girls!!) - that was awesome - the comment contest and the new feedjit actually forced me to update more often and to try to think of fun topics. In September, I will cover all the books (like 20 of them all purchased at yard sales) I have been reading lately, I also plan to share some of the things I have been making (mostly cards and a scrapbook page or two), are there any burning questions that you have for me. Post in the comments and I will answer them.

OH and the winner is... Liz (liz send me your address) who was a totally new person to my blog and who only posted once! Yeah! There will be another contest this month - for another great prize.

This is not becoming a political blog but..........

(If you are not into hearing my political opinion - stop reading now. My feelings are not hurt)

HE PICKED A WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!! Weeehooo. Say goodbye to the gold ole white boy network. That is right America today in 2008 (well starting in 2009) we will have either a woman or an African American in the White House!! I am so excited. Either way today is a ground breaking day. I personally am very very excited to learn more about Governor Sarah Palin but from what little I know I am impressed. She is young, has 5 kids (anyone who can manage 5 kids can manage the country!), her son is a soldier, she has been called a maverick! My political party affiliations varies - I believe in the woman's right to choose (Dem), I believe in less taxes(Rep), I don't believe the government should be involved in every aspect of my life(Rep), I really want to end the war. When push comes to shove I usually go Rep. and I liked McCain except 72 was a little too old in my book - this job is the highest stress level - people age 20 years in 4 (look at Clinton). But now with this new chick in town, I am so excited. I think the next 2+ months are going to be some of the most interesting in our history and this is going to be a very interesting race.

See you at the polls on November 4th, 2008!!!!!! A day when history will change forever. (Watch some independant will come in and screw it all up!)

A WOMAN - HE PICKED A WOMAN! Now it will be the pink house!! with sequins and bling!