Survivor

This layout was done for Spellbinders' consumer booth, showcasing the Melissa Frances Breast Cancer papers. It traveled the country last year, on display at many CKCs and expos. The Survivor is my mom. I'm so glad she is a survivor, and I'm pretty sure she is too. I love you, Mom!

Cindy's mostly excellent adventure

Cindy had a mostly excellent adventure at PetSmart yesterday.
Cindy decided she needed a new collar, and asked to go to the store. She'd never been to PetSmart, but she's seen the commercials and wanted to check it out.
They had lots of good smells there.
Lots of treats too! She'll take one of each, please!
What color goes with white and black spots, Daddy?

Actually, PetSmart on a Sunday was a bit more than she expected. There were many dogs shopping with their people, and the grooming section was busy too. Our friend's Great Dane was commanding attention in there, and when Cody speaks, everyone has to listen. I think the experience was too much at once for her, and we should try it again at a less busy time. Perhaps she had flashbacks to her earlier life?
Cindy enjoyed the car ride home the most.

Cindy's Daddy strongly discouraged Cindy's Mommy from bringing the D-Rebel and didnt' want to wait for her to change lenses, and Spunky had the small sleek camera, which forced Cindy's Mommy to use her cell phone camera like a dork . Cindy's mommy apologizes for the low res photos and will try harder next time.

Cindy would like to wish Sparky a Happy Birthday, and wishes she could go to a restuarant with the family.

Cindy likes to dream big.

Have a he{art}

I did it. I made something for me! Its hanging on my door right now! I saw this earlier in the week at TJ Maxx. I was out and about killing time and thinking about shoes when I should have been birthday shopping for Sparky. Yes, I found some shoes! and then this
jumped into my sight. I said no, not another thing to throw in the things to alter pile. But it kept talking to me. So I said FINE in my best teenage mumble and for a mere 5.99 it was mine.

It took its place of honor upon my kitchen counter for a few days. Yesterday it spoke up and said "do me". Yep that's what it said. So I cleared my schedule (bon-bons at noon) collected some schtuff from my studio and plunked down at the dining room table.

It was one of those projects that just told me what to do, no serious thinking or mulling or second guessing, it just came together. Even after I ran to Michael's to get those red Prima's that I had in my hand and decided against earlier in the week, and then ran to Joann's because, well, it was there and I had coupons, I still had the mojo to finish it.


In other news, I still have birthday shopping to do for Sparky, who will not be receiving any clothes from me. When he learns how to put the washed, dried and folded clothes away, I might reconsider. But for now, he has a closet but prefers to use the floor, and I prefer not to buy him clothes.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

I profusely apologize for not updating right away. Honestly, I didn't know anyone was actually reading this blog! Hi mom! Thanks to [and so on} for reminding me differently.

So yes, I made it to and from CHA without incident or sickness, which is nice! Here's a quick recap:

Flew to Santa Ana airport. Is it possible to have a favorite airport? Because if it is, that's mine! Its like a strip mall with gates and a runway, and a whole bunch of TSA agents. And an overpriced restaurant. And chairs in the sun facing the runway. And its good, until some loud talking suit sits next to you starts barking into his phone.

I demo'd all the live long day, despite the presence of Paris Hilton being somewhere in the building. My real brushes with celebs were that I rode down the elevator with Anna Griffin (she's nice!), up the elevator with Mark Montano (of HGTV fame) (he's short!) and flew to CA on the same plane as Wendy Vecchi (but we know each other from a now closed LSS)(and she's nice too!).

There was a fire, or a fire drill in the building, but it only lasted about 5 minutes. The alarms sounded, turned off, sounded again, and they finally announced that everyone had to leave the building, opening doors and moving curtains to reveal exits. If they had opened the large garage doors from the get-go I think people would have taken it seriously at the first alarm.

My roomie Cathy always rents a car, which made it possible to stop at Trader Joe's and Target on the way to the Hilton, and back to Target later that night to buy some unmentionables that didn't make it into my suitcase. Let me tell you, when Hanes promises 'wedgie free', they deliver! We also bought Diet Coke, turkey sandwich fixins', and a case of water. Prices in the convention center are outrageous and there really isn't another less expensive option for cheap breakfast and lunch. We enjoyed dinner with the group (17!) at Buca De Beppo, and went back another time because the ravioli was calling our names. Luckily we had the car and we could escape the crowds to go to Mimi's and Chili's on other nights.

One of our favorites is a place called the Sand Box, a small bar and grill nestled in a hotel. We ate there then had a side show at the 7-11 next door, with 4 cars of Anaheim's finest, an ambulance, fire truck and news crew at the scene. We never found out what the ruckus was.

I'm off to the gym...more later with some photos!
Beth