Missing...

Today is the 6th anniversary of my Mom's passing.  She battled cancer for almost 5 months and fought a very hard, tough battle.  Mom still managed to smile even when she was hooked up to chemo or had tubes coming out of her back. Watching her battle taught me to cherish every moment because you never know what the next moment will bring.

They say it gets easier as time marches on, but I don't think so.  I think you just learn to deal with it.  I still have moments where something gets me and I end up in tears.  I'm sad because I know my future kids will never know her, but I know she'll always be with me, watching over me. 

Miss and love you Mom!

Where did my weekend go?

I would like to know where my weekend went please....I feel like I haven't had a day off....

I just keep thinking of this place and being there for a week next month!  Yeah, I know....I'm excited!!!  Just have to get through a few more weeks!!

I need a vacation....

Our yearly excursion to Tennessee can't come soon enough!!  I love the Smokies in TN so much...I'd actually love to live down there someday in the mountains.....Maybe when we retire!!

Since we're less than a month out from vacation, I decided to post a recent layout from our trip last year!

This is part of a two page layout that I did for some of the many pictures from our October 2010 trip to the Smokies.  John and I went on a hike up at Clingman's dome and also near a creek just inside the park.  We were there over Halloween last year and the colors were phenomenal!  I could never take enough pictures of the foliage down there!  So many beautiful colors.....And it seems like we don't have those colors here in Ohio...

We're going back again next month, a little earlier than we went last year, but it will still be just as beautiful.  We're going with hubby's mom and step-dad, and his little nephew Will.  Will is 4 and an absolute riot so I am sure that we will have a blast down there with him.

We've rented a cabin with a spectacular view and I am so looking forward to time away from everything.  It'll be nice to relax after Oktoberfest and get a little breather from work...We're going to G-burg and Pigeon Forge and of course all of the touristy things: WonderWorks, Magiquest, Ripley's Aquarium.  And of course we're going to play lots of Putt-Putt....I can't wait to wake up in the morning and sit on the porch and see this view:

                                                                                                  
Off to finish watching the Bucks and then to the craft room to finish work on Oktoberfest.  Later! 

Been busy....real busy....

Ever get to a point in your life where you feel like you don't have a chance to breathe??  That's how the past couple of months have been!!  Between work, a garage sale, vacation planning, and Oktoberfest prep I haven't had a free second!  Good news is that after the first weekend of October, the stress should be gone and I should have more free time!!

Speaking of Oktoberfest, we (hubby included) are churning out alcohol inked altered dominoes.  We're making them into magnets, pins, and pendants.  There won't be so many pendants because they are such a pain in to make!  I'm not much of a jewelry maker....

I am SO glad the Fall tv has started....Been busy watching X Factor, Survivor, Vampire Diaries, Secret Circle (a new fave), ANTM, Glee, and a few others....The TV relieves some stress!!

Well, back to making some dominoes.   I'll post more when Oktoberfest is done on 10/1.  Fingers crossed for a good showing at my first craft show!!

Missing for the past month...

Well, I have been 'missing' from the blog world for the last month.  I have been a very busy gal lately....

First off, Alicia came down from Chi-town for the weekend of July 22 for two concerts.  We had 6th row for our boys, Rascal Flatts, at Riverbend in Cinci...Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, and Sara Evans also were on the Flatts Fest tour!  Awesome show, but boy was it HOT!!!  And of course it was an outdoor concert, so there was no escaping the heat!  Thank goodness for the bottled water the venue provided.  I don't think I have ever been as sweaty as that night.  (I know, gross!) But it was an awesome show as usual and I'm looking forward to my 8th concert!!

Then on the Sunday we finally got to see New Kids On the Block in concert.  Alicia and I were both fans when we were kids.  (I was in the fourth grade when I discovered them!  LOL)  So when we heard they were touring with the Backstreet Boys, who we had already seen in Milwaukee a few years ago.  On Facebook, I also heard that Jordan Knight, my favorite New Kid, was doing a Meet and Greet at the Best Buy in Columbus so we both got to meet him and get an autograph as well!!  The concert literally was the best concert I have EVER been to!  Hopin' they go back on tour again next year!

I also had the wonderful enjoyment of turning the BIG 3-0 on August 6.  I just can't believe that I am 30!  It doesn't seem possible.  The Thursday before my birthday, Dad and Jean took John and I out to Red Lobster for dinner.  Then Friday was the start of the county fair so it was Fair Food time!  Yum!  Saturday, my birthday, I thought I was just going out to dinner with my in-laws and John, but I was wrong!  They took me to Der Dutchman and my whole family and John's was there to surprise me!  They got me!!  Then after spending the time with the family, the in-laws, my sis-in-law, John, and I went to La Palma for margaritas....and a sombrero too.  LOL  Then it was off to the pub for a little dancing and some beers.....What a night!!

And this past week was a LONG work week with the HOOT convention in Columbus!   I love the conventions because they are fast paced but we're always wiped out afterwards....

So now I think I'm all updated on the past month.  After I recover from the past week, I've got to start on more for Oktoberfest.  Lots of ideas of things to make to sell at that show!! 

A successful party...

My aunt's 80th party was yesterday and it was a success!  We had 27 people there, not including her.  She had no idea!  Walked in and she didn't realize it was a party for her...  And then when she finally realized it, her jaw dropped.

Saw lots of family I haven't seen in a few years..And a distant relative I have never met drove up for the celebration!  It was really nice to see everyone and that all these people were able to attend.

And the cake...where do I begin?  I went to Bobby D's here in Urbana and Bob made these delicious and tasty cake for me.  Since my Aunt is rather fond of UK basketball, I decided to incorporate that into her cake...As much as it pained me to have a UK cake, it turned out beautiful!!  My aunt and everyone at the party loved it!!

I'm pooped now and I think I am just going to take it easy and watch movies at home. Can't believe the weekend is almost over already!  I vote for Mondays to be included in the weekend!

A Birthday Card...

My aunt turned 80 the end of June and I have organized a surprise party for her tomorrow at a local restaurant.  She still thinks it is a family reunion....Boy am I a good fibber!!  Anyways....I had to make her a birthday card.  This was the first birthday card that I have made that was square!  Yep...believe it or not, I have never made a square card!  Here it is:

Happy Birthday
paper: Crate Paper 'Portrait Collection'
pearls: Kaisercraft
punch: EK Success
stamp: Hero Arts
corner rounder: We R Corner chomper

To be honest, it felt like the square card was easier to do for some reason...Hmm...Well, off to eat one of my favorite summer treats, a Bomb Pop (cherry, lemon, blue raspberry popsicle)