Darcie's Got Candy

I first found Darcie's digital clip art (bought a 5-6 CD set for a song) because another blogging buddy was using her art on cards, found her on FB a few months ago, & have followed her around ever since. Super talented AND super sweet lady!

Today on HER BLOG, she's announced that she's giving away 2 sets of rubber stamps! They just happen to be the sets in her current month's club (BTW, great price for everything you get!) are just too cute for words...and the projects made with it...OMGosh...that bird pinwheel is so UNIQUE! Go check it out (click above, where it says HER BLOG) & good luck.

Help!!

I've fallen into PINTEREST and can't get out!!!! *LOL* OMGosh, have you BEEN there yet?!? It's the coolest place EVAH and for the last two nights I'm sitting with pinterest screen tabs up in my lap & NCIS on the telly...cool pix on my laptop & Mark Harmon/Michael Weatherly on my tv screen...almost as good as getting a Doctor Who/David Tennant fix!!!! Basically, the concept is a social gathering spot for like-minded people. I think it's more like a huge bulletin board to pin your ideas on...without needing the wall space! *LOL* I totally blame, um..I mean..THANK Donna at Funky Junk for getting me hooked on this latest craze. She's even got her own collection started over there. Doesn't matter what your interests are...photography, interior design, clothing, furniture, fine art, jewelry...chances are you'll find things to ooh and ahhh over!

I'm currently sucked into Home + Furniture, the DIY section, all things burlap, ruffles, a place for those that are Mod Podge obsessed, embroidery, an area that made the vintage girly-girl in me sigh with happiness & yes, there are even NCIS Doctor Who and David Tennant sections! Over 90% of the "pinned" pictures credit the actual blog or website they were taken from, giving you even more places on the WWW to check out. How could you NOT love a place like Pinterest?!? Go, explore, drool, beg to be invited so you can start your own collection/addiction...you can blame thank me later!

Let's try this again...

Not sure what happened...guess at this point it doesn't really matter. Had the post all ready to go, did an update to it last night...and it still didn't post on schedule. Hopefully whatever issue Blogger might have had is over now & this post shows up!

Well, I got quite a few different opinions on what to do with this crazy, long mane of mine. Thanks to those that left me some input, I appreciate the feedback very much. I considered every one of your comments. I took Devin for his haircut Monday, since JROTC started back for him on Wednesday, and while I was there I talked to the girls that weren't cutting anyone about my hair and what they thought about the idea rolling around in my punkin head.

Here's the back on Tuesday morning... I washed in Monday night around 1030 & gave it a blast with the blow dryer before going to bed...by 11am, it was STILL damp...yup, it's THAT THICK!

And here's the front view. Sorry if it puts you off the ole blog...just keepin it real here!

Off to get it cut. An hour later...

TEN INCHES of hair going to Locks of Love!! {goodness, there's lots of RED in there!!}

Here I am just as soon as I got back home, grabbed my camera & ran into the bathroom for a quick pic...

Not bad! It IS as short as it's ever going to go, though. *LOL* In fact, I'm still liking the haircut nearly a week later...

Cathy thought I'd cut out all of that killer perm she gave me last year, but as you can see, with my 1/2" curling iron and 20 minutes on the clock, I was able to make OODLES of ringlets...a quick tousle with my fingers & I'm out the door!

Last night I played with these for part of a Christmas in July swap project that I've been working on the last couple of weeks. It turned out incredibly CUTE!

Can't show you any more than that, until 25July, but it's proof that I am crafting. *ROFL* Now I'm going to work on a Stashbusting Spring project that I CAN share with everyone!

Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

Vicki's Got Candy!

And you've got THREE chances to win some of it, so click HERE to go over and sign up!!

By the way...chopped off the hair this morning...pictures tomorrow...see you then!!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Hey there! Just wanted to say that I hope everyone found a little bit o' the Irish in them today to celebrate St Patrick's Day. If you're indulging in the green beer, please do so responsibly. True Irish don't go for the green beer though...guaranteed they're lifting pints of Guinness Stout or Killian's Red tonight (as a former bartender, you kinda just KNOW these things)! *LOL*

Image courtesy of Karen, the Graphics Fairy

I didn't have any new projects to share with you, but I went through old posts and can't find where I've ever shared these pieces with you...so I thought today would be a good day. The top picture is in Biker Boy's office & the frame is wood sprayed with Krylon's hammered copper paint. I like how it compliments the dark green floss that I used & the natural muslin. The bottom one hangs just outside the bathroom door.

(images were taken from Dover Publishing newsletter freebies, printed & stitched)
Yes then center circle of this one is made ENTIRELY of French Knots!

Still no decision on the haircut, though from comments here & from a few friends e-mailing me or letting me know on other forums, the long hair seems to be a favorite. Just not sure, but I'll figure it out and let you in on what I do. Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

It's That Time Again

We aren't hoarders...we're merely gathering extra supplies because we KNOW that if we find something we like, the store will quit carrying it...then, when we run out, what are we gonna do?!? You've had that thought before. You've run into that situation before. You're a crafter, so I KNOW you have. That's okay, I'm just as guilty of it. Sometimes, though, I do it out of habit more than actual necessity.

Well, last year I joined Robin over at The T-Shirt Diaries for Stashbusting September and made a small but noticeable dent in my crafting goodies. And, I'm proud to say, I haven't replaced anything that I used. I wasn't really sure if I could do it again this year, even though I still have plenty of stash that could be busted...my issue this year is time. I'm committed to getting my oldest child caught up on credits necessary for him to graduate and it's taking every minute of my day, because he is so easily distracted and tends to put things off till they're in jeopardy. I need crafting to maintain my sanity and I have got to get my she-cave de-cluttered and organized some more, so I'm looking at this not as an inconvenience, but an OPPORTUNITY to get off my duff and git 'er done. The more stash I use, the less I have to organize!

What about you? Do you have a closet full of fabric that could be stitched up into something useful (like clothes for the summer)? A shed full of thrift store finds that need to be cleaned, repainted, upcycled and/or repurposed? Boxes of scrapbooking paper that could be turned into greeting cards? Clay, buttons, embroidery thread, wood to paint on...ANYTHING that could be crafted into something, other than taking up space in your house? This challenge is for YOU! Click on the button above to go over to Robin's and sign up. You won't be sorry!

*sigh* Decisions, Decisions...

Brush the shoulders with some fringe-y bangs? Maybe if I had Raquel's killer bod to go with it....

Fresh n funky, on-the-go Mormon Mommy cut? Everything fits ('cept the Mormon Mommy part...)
Shorter in the back, with some layers & frame the face a bit?

Too bold? Too short? Shorter? Am I a risk taker any more? *sigh*

Play it safe & stay mid-length?
Or just stay where I'm at, leave it long & layer it up some to take off the weight?

I just can't decide...this is my hair (photo taken this morning). As you can see, it's thick & LONG. One hand width away from my waist. The leather wrap holding it is 8" long. I like the length, but it's getting to a point where it's becoming troublesome...Biker Boy sleeps on it & I can't roll over at night...I sit down in a chair or get into the car & pull my own hair...you get the idea. As much as I like it, something needs to be done. I've poured through magazines, looked all over the WWW & can't make up my mind what I want. I'm asking you for your input.

Here are your choices:

1. Don't cut it ~ I'd KILL for hair like that!

2. Just take off a little bit...maybe 2-3"

3. Chop it off & donate it to Locks of Love - they need at least 10", so it's gonna go short if I go this route.

4. What is it with the pop quizzes on the weekend?!? I can't decide either!!

This photo was taken in September of last year. Those bangs are at my chin now! (Yes, my hair grows pretty fast) My problem is trying not to go too short. Don't want "Moon Pie" face! *LOL*

I wear it down a lot, which is why I did the perm last May (Cathy was amazing - this perm has lasted almost a year & shows no signs of going away). Hair is in fantastic shape - it's not dry from excessive product use and no split ends. I pull it back & either braid it or clip it up to keep it out of my workspace when I can craft.

So, what do you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts & opinions...I'll share what I do later...

Edmond, Oklahoma...

Fifteen years ago today...after 5 wks in labor, total bed rest, faxing in toco monitor readings every hour, and tending to Oldest Child (had some help...kinda, sorta but not really), the doctor decided to help this tired young mommy and start her labor at 930am. After a LONG day, Middle Child arrived at 548pm, 7March, weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs 12 ounces. Today, he's 6'2" and 170lbs, has his mom's whacked sense of humor & love for music, and his dad's wicked ability to write a person out of his life if he feels that person has been disloyal to him or anyone he cares for. He's sensitive, though he doesn't want the world to know it, loving, smart, and just a fine young man all around. We're very proud of him & can't wait to see what he becomes.

He had a grand weekend. Started out by playing chess for a few hours Friday evening with Oldest Child's best friend...thoroughly enjoyed seeing THIS, as opposed to them crowded around the computer or a game console!

Then on Saturday, he screwed up the courage to tell his Dad what he wanted for his birthday. He knows we've been tight on money for the last couple of years, so he didn't want to stress us out. He NEVER asks for big ticket things, usually it's just a CD or a game or a special meal, so that told us it was VERY important to him. Seems that for the last 8wks, he's been walking past a pawn shop on the way home from school, dreaming about....a BASS GUITAR! His best friend is starting a band, and Middle Child wanted to join in.

So Dad asks him if he can wait for our tax return to come in...just a few more weeks. Middle Child walks by & says "He didn't say NO, so I can wait, Mom." After he was gone from the room, I looked at Biker Boy & said "I do have some money stashed. We could get it for him now & put the money back when the return comes in." He looks at me & says "Ya know. You're right. He never asks us for anything. Let's go hit the ATM." Dad tells Middle Child to put on his shoes so they can go get some CDs at Hastings. He comes out & says he wants me to go too, so Oldest Child volunteers to watch Youngest Child so I can go with them.

We go by the ATM, then I drive us to the pawn shop. Middle Child has NO IDEA that we're there for him. He thinks Dad just wants to see what he's got his eye on & price it all out. Total for all of it was more than I had on me, but we pulled the shop owner off to the side and explained that it was for his birthday & that I had cash. Were they willing to deal? Uh, YEAH, for cash a pawn shop will do just about anything! We walked out with his bass guitar, a mini amp, & strap for the price marked on the guitar. He's still floating on air! *ROFL* He needed a universal plug for the amp & some headphones so he can practice in his room without disturbing anyone, so we dropped Biker Boy at The Clubhouse and headed to FYE. Managed to find exactly what we needed...ON SALE! It was a great day.

Here he is plucking his bass for Youngest Child. {You can almost see those little toes tapping...}
He sat like this for HOURS Saturday night and yesterday....
It looks blue in these pix, but the bass (by Kramer) is really PURPLE. Middle Child is on Cloud 9 & already knows a little bit of "Crazy Train" by Ozzy. He's got plans to hang with his buds, playing music this coming weekend, but when I dropped him off at school this morning, he turns back "Can I have your creamy cheesy chicken enchiladas for my birthday dinner? They're the best!"

Sure! What kind of cake do you want?

"None. I just want those enchiladas. Love you, Mom!"
So, now I've got chicken in the crock-pot. I'll pull off the broth at lunch, shred the meat & add salsa. Later tonight I'll make him his birthday dinner. How could I say no? *LOL*

Happy Birthday, Sweetie! ♥♥

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Thanks to those that are now stalking me & signed up for the $30 giveaway to CSN Stores. Our winner is I'maYaYa! I'll be contacting you on Monday with your code so you can shop.

For those that didn't win this time around...not to worry...I have something special in the works, coming up in just a couple of short weeks, so stay tuned. Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!

I have a treat for you!!!

This giveaway is now closed.

How fun is this?!? I have been asked to give one of you $30 to CSN online stores. This will apply to my American & Canadian friends, because right now, that's their shipping area. Sound like fun? I think so too! CSN Stores have everything from lighting, home decor, kitchen utensils, to outdoor things like swing sets...after spending a couple of days looking through their more than 200 online sites, I've pretty much decided if they don't have it, you don't need it anyway! *LOL* Let's see how many stalkers we can get signed up between now & March 1st. I'd really love it if we can get 100 (or more)...

'K! Here are the rules:

(1) If you're already a follower, living in the US or Canada, leave me some love saying you're a stalker (1 entry)

(2) If you're NOT stalking me...DO IT...jump over to my right sidebar where it says "MY STALKERS...I LOVE Y'ALL" (I do!) & leave me a comment that you're a new follower. (1 entry)

(3) Blog about it! Come back and leave me a direct link to the post you've written (1 entry)

(4) Post it on FaceBook for your friends to see & link them here so they can join in on the fun...come back & leave me a comment with the link to your FB status so I can see (1 entry)

(5) You can Tweet about it, if you'd like, but I don't Twitter yet and may not for quite some time so I have no way to verify this for an entry.

Entries will be verified on March 2nd & 3rd, with the winner announced Friday, March 4th. So, go out & spread the word, and let's see how many stalkers I can get signed up.

I'm gonna go play at the crafting table while my guys are watching things blow up on the telly, so hopefully I'll have something to share with you by Monday. Thanks for stopping by & have a fantastic weekend!