I need to win a $100 gift card from Home Goods

Yea, yea, I know.  YOU could use it, too.  But this here blog post?  This is my 2nd chance to win!

Here's where the contest is originating:  http://kaylaaimee.typepad.com/giveaways/2011/05/shop-til-you-drop-giveaway-100-homegoods-giftcard-.html

By the way, Kayla Aimee's blog is terrific - and her little Scarlette is one seriously GORGEOUS baby!  If you want to read a tear-jerking blog, visit her at kayla aimee: only slightly neurotic and read about her beautiful baby's premature arrival and the scares her mom and dad went through until - YAY! - she was strong enough to come home!  I'm a regular visitor!

Some scrappy examples...

Was chatting with my sister this weekend and she commented that she'd be interested in seeing some of my scrap pages, and my art journal work, too.  I'm taking a new art journaling class called Life Journaling with Amy Coon (it's an online class) and while I haven't started any hands-on work in this class, I have some other pages I can show off here...

DISCLAIMER:  Although I love to do it, and I read tons'o'blogs written by professional scrappers, I.AM.NOT.A.PROFESSIONAL.  Please leave only happy, constructive criticism - vicious laughter at my ineptitude will only make me cry!!!

I created this background when the prompt called for inchies:  they wanted us to put together a page using 1"x1" photos, pieces of photos, etc.  There's a running joke amongst my scrapping pals that I never do exactly what I'm told, or what the instructions say to do - I always give it somewhat of an original twist and do it my way...  So rather than 1"x1", I used colored squares that were about 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 inches square and I inked them up with my selection of distress inks.  (That selection has doubled since then, by the way!)  I thought it would make a cool background but I can't decide what I want to ruin it with - I like it just the way it is!  Someday I'll add to the page, either some journaling, some lettering, some photos, some other type of something to finish the page...

This was a page I did in a previous art journaling class that wasn't based on any prompt whatsoever.  I was playing around with colors and that wiggly way of putting text on a page, and this is what came out of my doodling...

This is an art journal I made with my own two hands - it's from a kit from Donna Downey.  The cover is canvas with a fabric front and back.  The interiors are all random sizes and textures:  some envelopes, IBM timecards, cardstock, etc.  I like the randomness of it a lot - some of the artwork can take literally 5 minutes 'cause the "canvas" is 3"X3" - others take me forever 'cause they're on a 7"x9" page!

For some unknown reason that may be related to the fact that I'm a "guest" on my corporate "guest" wifi network, I am having a devil of a time uploading photos to this site, even from my external hard drive.

I'll make a point of posting future work, and old stuff when I can figure out why I can't post them today...

2 Small Polyps and Mild Diverticulosis

I was so convinced that I'd be clean as a whistle, I was disappointed to find out I had 2 small polyps and some mild diverticulosis.  Nothing a high fiber diet can't eliminate in the future, but...

The important thing is they found them and removed them.  And Dr. M. said I don't have to give up seeds or nuts so I can easily add more fiber to my diet.  I go back in 3 years. 

Advance Notice to Dr. M.:  You have 3 years to figure out another way of cleaning me out 'cause I'm not doing this NuLYTELY solution again.  It's like drinking salt water; after a single sip I'm ready to gag.  THANK GOODNESS the pharmacist said I could mix some lemonade in with the drink.  EWWW.  (I believe I said the same thing yesterday.)

I had to take 4 Dulcolax tablets - I'll take 8 if I don't have to drink that stuff...

My daughter convinced me a small burger or something on the lighter side would be better after going without solid food for 38 hours, so we went to BK and I had a Whopper Jr.  Then after a bottle of water in the afternoon and a hard pretzel, we went to CiCi's for dinner with Mom.  I enjoyed my dinner - lots of different pizzas, lots of flavors - and Roman Holiday Italian Ice from the Lyndhurst Pastry Shop for dessert.  Mmmmmmm...

Turning 50 - Officially!

So my birthday was December 18 and that's the day I turned 50.  FIFTY!  The big Five-Oh!  5 decades!  1/2 a century!

One might think from that sentence that 50 traumatized me but truly, it didn't.  I couldn't believe I was 50 years old!  When I look in the mirror, I see the me from 30 years ago, granted, with a few more pounds and a few more fine lines on my face, but still?  50?  No way.

But today, it's official.  I FEEL 50 today.  I spent yesterday working from home, prepping for my 1st colonoscopy.

EWW.

There are probably other words I could use, like, "I'm starving!" and "That stuff sucked!" and "It made me want to vomit after the first three glasses!" and "NO EFFIN' WAY AM I DOING THIS AGAIN!"

But I will, in five years or next year, whenever Dr. M. tells me I have to do it again...

I have to be at the office at 11:30 this morning; the procedure is at 12 noon.  I'm pretty sure that I'll be fine and they'll find nothing, but even if they find a few polyps, they'll remove them. 

I have a bad headache; I'm not sure if it's from the low pressure system on its way (I'm susceptible to pressure headaches) or if it's because I'M STARVING!  I haven't had solid food from Thursday night, and I'm so hungry I could scream!

I'm dreaming of where to go for lunch, post-procedure.  I'm thinking a diner, instead of our traditional Burger King (that's where J wanted to go after his colonscopies...)...  Or perhaps California Pizza Kitchen - I haven't been in a long time and I love their Pear and Gorgonzola pie...  That would totally make J sick to his stomach, but it's MY colonoscopy... 

Well said...

Quotation of the Day - Shelf Awareness, Tuesday, May 10, 2011 - Volume 2, Issue 1460


Book Reader vs. Book Owner?

"There is a growing distinction between the book reader and the book owner. The book reader just wants the experience of reading the book, and that person is a natural digital consumer: Instead of a disposable mass market book, they buy a digital book. The book owner wants to give, share and shelve books. They love the experience. As we add value to the physical product, particularly the trade paperback and hardcover, the consumer will pay a little more for the better experience."

--John Makinson, CEO of Penguin Group, in a Wall Street Journal q&a yesterday.

[Admittedly not applicable across the board, but to some degree, accurate, in my humble opinion, which is allowed on my blog...]

Love in Cabo - our goodbye breakfast

Not too much to explain here, so here are some photos....

Wish I was back in Cabo San Lucas...

Love in Cabo - the wedding

You don't need a lot of narrative, the pictures say it all!  (But since you know it's impossible for me to sit quietly, I'll insert some short-but-sweet explanations or comments where necessary!)

Coffee on our terrace.

Poolside...

A little niche 1/2 way between our room and the pool - J waited 2 days to take a picture of me in this spot!

Didn't he look great in that shirt and pants combo?!

I was so worried about being the "only one" in a short dress - 1/2 the guests were in short dresses and it was so darn hot, I'm THRILLED I was in a short dress!

The parents of the groom...

Here comes the bride!

Showing off their bling!  (The minister's words, not mine!)

They chose to do a sand ceremony, where they alternated two different colors of sand into a single vase, and the minister made reference to their lives being intertwined and inseparable:  "As the grains of sand cannot be separated, neither can your lives."

The happy couple...  Oh, I meant to put this caption near the bride and groom!  (LOL!)

They had couches and pillows and ottomans set up on the sand for the cocktail hour.

Their first dance as Mr. and Mrs.

Beautiful centerpiece.  Every other table had this centerpiece, or the other was a ball of hot pink flowers.

The place settings...

There were fire pits all around the reception area...

The bride cuts the cake, the bride cuts the cake!!!

We went to bed around 10:30/11:00.  The party went on until about 1:30am, apparently, but we needed a relatively early night.  Immediately after the wedding ceremony, J almost passed out from the sun and heat.  All he had to eat all day was 1/2 of an apple and 1/2 of a pear, a 1/2 slice of pizza, and some water.  Not much.  Some.  The resort was there with cool cloths and Gatorade almost immediately when they saw him sitting down, holding his head.

If only I'd thought to take a photo...  Yes, to hold over him every time he does something that dumb in the future...  Which we all know he will...

;-D

Love in Cabo - the pool and rehearsal dinner

We ran out to the pool as soon as we got our luggage, which really only took a few moments.  Although J wanted to get out and about so we didn't wait - he had to take a picture of me on the premises in my yoga pants/travel outfit...  not the most flattering clothes I own but comfortable for 6 hours on a plane...

We got our luggage and immediate went to claim some poolside lounges.  There are several pools on the property:  a few adult-only pools for those rich old fogies who prefer cigars, peace and quiet, and no kids.  Us?  Not so much.  We went right to the main pool where our group was hanging out and staked a claim on two spots.  J started to turn one of the lounges to face the sun and Ernesto ran over and told him not to move the chairs, that he was there to do that.  Of course J said, "No, that's okay" and Ernesto almost had a stroke making sure J didn't exert himself in any way...  "NO, Sr. Salvetta, I will relocate the lounge for you!"

We settled in, slathered ourselves in either dry oil #4 or a combination of that and SPF 15, SPF 30, and SPF 50 (for my face) and my clear zinc oxide.  They brought over a bucket of ice with water and spray Evian cans to mist ourselves if we became too warm...

I have vowed to never take a bathing suit photo with my sister-in-law and/or my niece.  You think TV adds 10 pounds?!?!?!?!?!?

At around 3:30 we went back to the room to shower and get ready for the reahearsal dinner.  It was being held on the beach at The Office, a restaurant P and B found the last time they went to Cabo.  Here are some photos from that evening's dinner...  The waiters were AWESOME!  They not only provided a high chair for the baby, but when they saw she was sleeping in her mom's arms, they put two chairs together, brought over 6 Mexican blankets, and made a little crib for her so she could rest until she woke up for dinner.  Look how cute she looks sleeping in it...

I need to learn how to pose - 9 times out of 10 I stand in THE most unflattering position...  Trust me when I say I truly didn't look that heavy in this new dress...

My sister-in-law on the left, mother of the groom, and mother of the bride on the right...

The table at the rehearsal dinner, on the sand, with torches all around us, too...

This was the "crib" the waiters created for E...

Here's a photo of the bride and groom - we love you, R!!   (And G, too!)

That was one GIANT mojito!

J and G (the groom) - they may not look alike, but personality-wise, they are SO much alike!

The baby and her mom - she was in a GREAT mood when she woke up from her power nap!  To be honest, she was an angel that whole trip - not a peep out of her on the plane, not on any of them, not in the airports when we were delayed, not during our layover, she's the BEST!

I'll do another post of wedding pictures...

Love in Cabo - upon arrival

On Thursday April 28 Friday April 29th we left for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to attend the wedding of our nephew.  They decided on a destination wedding.  I've never attended a destination wedding before but let me say here, I would SO do it again!  We stayed at Las Ventanas al Paraíso. 

We are a Motel 6 sort of traveler.  As long as the sheets are clean, along with the shower, and there are no critters with more than 2 legs sharing my space, I'm okay with the room.  A comfortable bed is negotiable, since we're usually there en route to somewhere else.  This resort, though, is beyond anything I've ever experienced in my life.  You're greeted on the open air reception patio with a shot of margarita, and then you're escorted to your suite.  We paide $575 per night, plus 25% tax.  This is so beyond anything we've ever spent before, and that was the wedding rate!!!  But as God is my witness, I'd spend it again!  The gentleman greeted us by name (we'd never introduced ourselves!) then took us to the room.  Here are some room photos:

Every single employee referred to us by name.  My sister-in-law is convinced we're videotaped upon arrival and when we confirm our identities, the employees then view the video so they know who's who.  How else can you explain that Ernesto at the pool called me Sra. Salvetta when I walked out there to sit in the sun and tan burn for the wedding???  How else can the gardener call me by name?  Not the two cleaning fairies butlers assigned to my suite; they know who's staying where, of course...

The next post will be photos from the pool, then the rehearsal dinner.  Then I'll post wedding photos, and finally pictures from our Sunday departure breakfast.

For the record, more than a few of us were overheard saying we could get used to this kind of treatment:  the white glove service, the coffee service on the patio first thing in the morning, the iced water bottles next to the pool, along with iced spray cans of Evian for when we sweat perspire...  Oh, I also have to tell you that our flight down on Thursday was cancelled due to weather.  THE HOTEL DID NOT CHARGE US FOR THE ROOM.  You're talking about 23 people who didn't make it to the hotel in time for the welcome dinner on the first night.  23 people paying, MINIMUM, $800 dollars per night.  Do the math!  And the welcome dinner?  They didn't charge my nephew for the peopl who didn't attend EVEN THOUGH FOOD WAS PREPARED FOR US AND THE AREA WAS SET UP FOR US.

THAT, my web-friends, is customer service.  I would HIGHLY recommend Las Ventana - click on the link above and take an advance look, if you'd like, but I'll be posting my photos tomorrow (or later tonight if we get home early enough)...