Prescott Trip

On Saturday we made a day trip to Prescott.  I was reconnecting with some of my stamp friends that live there.  And the boys went along for the day.  Ryan actually somehow talked a friend of his into going with us.  It is a bit of a drive.  I had fun stamping and from the looks of it, they had fun around town.

Lisa, Me and Lynn working away on our projects.

For stamping, we did something called a shoebox swap.  They are so fun.  Each person designs a card and then provides the materials for each person attending to make that same card.  So, we got to make projects from each other.  Too fun!  If you want to see those projects, you will have to visit my stampin' blog - http://www.melzplace.blogspot.com/

Ryan and Shawn chilling out in the backseat with the iPod.

Digging for rocks.

Doug had planned on taking the boys to a movie while I was stamping.  But once they got up there, Ryan didn't want to sit anymore in a theater.  So instead, they went to a park for awhile.  When they were at Lynn's house, the boys spent their time playing with Lynn's adorable dachshunds or digging for rocks in the yard.

After we were done stamping, the four us decided to stop for lunch.  We went to Cracker Barrel.  They have such a fun shopping area and really yummy food.  I was ready to eat.

Scary Halloween glasses

While we were waiting for our table, I had fun checking out all their Halloween goodies.  Aren't these glasses the best?  They also had a silver glittery pair.  Too fun!

Shawn & Ryan playing checkers

After we were seated and had ordered, the boys decided to play checkers at a nearby table.

Now, doesn't that look yummy?  Doug and I split a meal.  They're meals are too big for just one person.  So, we splurged a little and got the chicken fried steak.  It came with three sides, too many to fit on the plate because the third one was in a separate bowl.  Doug was nice enough to let me have Lima beans and okra.  Two of my favorites that I hardly ever get to eat at home - nobody else will eat them with me!  It was so yummy and half was just perfect.

And really who can go to Cracker Barrel without buying something?

I don't know what these are called, but they are one of my mom's favorite treats.  She always gets one whenever we go there together and so I had to get one - or four - while I was there yesterday.  And yes, only three of them made it home.  Yum!

And here's a tease of the cards that I got to stamp.  Fun times!

It was a great Saturday and also very exhausting.  I fell asleep on the couch around 9:00.

Back in the Saddle Again

Isn't that how that old Roy Rogers song goes?  Well, since I'm totally a city girl, the "saddle" that I am referring to is stamping.  That's right, in July, I became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator again.  I had done it for over eight years.  And really had a great time being involved with stamping and all the fun times and wonderful people that I met through it.  Well, SU! was offering a special for past demonstrators to sign back up for only $35.  With a little encouragement from my friend - thanks Di - big hugs! - I did it. 

Already I have attended a few classes and held my very first stamp class and garage sale.  It was family that came to the class and we had a great time.  Afterwards we went out for lunch with the rest of our families - hubbies and kids - to one of our favorite places.  La Tolteca.  They have such yummy tamales.

I am having a very fun time and am looking forward to the classes that I am planning - Christmas, Halloween and more Christmas.  Be sure to visit my new stamp blog for everything paper craft related.

Here are some of the highlights so far.

Attending a class at my friend Diana's house.  I took another fun friend with me to the class.  She is a scrapbooker but has never stamped before.  It was very fun!

On my way to a Distressing stamp class.  Learning all about using the new distressing kit.  Great projects.  Afterwards, Diana and I went camera shopping to find her a new one.  A great day!

The components of the Distressing Kit.  I'm telling you, if you are having a stressing day, this kit is so fun to use, you will be all relaxed when you are done.

 A project from the distressing class.

Garage Sale items.

One of my favorite new items in the Winter Mini Catalog.  I loved them when I saw them in the catalog.  And really loved them in person.  I want to figure out way to wear them.  They are so beautiful.

Twilight Party

I got this email a couple weeks ago, inviting me to a Twilight party. Now, I love the books as much as everyone else seems to - I am on the last few chapters of the fourth book right now for the third time reading through. They get better and better with each read! I was thrilled to get the invite. It was from a very dear friend of mine, from my stampin' days, and one that I do not get to see nearly as much as I would like to. I knew that there would be other friends that I don't get to see as often as I like there as well. I'm glad I went. We munched on some wonderful food. Marlene (the host of the party) created some beautiful cards for us all to stamp using her Twilight stamps! I didn't even know there was such a thing. We played the Twilight game (which didn't really hold the attention of us all, I don't even think we made it halfway through the game) and then put on the movie. We had so much fun chatting and stamping that it was pretty late by the time we got the movie on.

Here is the gang of Twilight gals that night. Some of us really got into it. There were some fangs, some purple "bruises" under eyes & glittery skin. Diana, one of my oldest "vampire" friends (we go way back in our vampire love, as she put it - "before vampires were cool", and yes there is a story that goes along with that. It took place at like 2 in the morning at her house after a stamping class!!!) "bit" several of us with a sharpie for the bite marks and some red nail polish for the blood. The best was Rhonda showing up with like 2 gallons of glitter all over her. I hear it still hasn't come off after like 3 showers!!! That's dedication for you!

Getting ready to stamp. You can tell we haven't started yet, the table is much too clean!
Marlene and Rhonda:

Rhonda and I getting ready to play the Twilight game. You can tell Rhonda has makeup on, she's paler than me!

Kari looking through a Twilight movie book:

The game pieces showing the Cullen crest:

Let the game begin. I don't know if any of you have played the game or not. I was expecting more trivia and less silliness. There was a lot of "roll the dice to complete this challenge" or "close your eyes and tell what color the walls are in the room that you are sitting in". It was kind of silly. We did laugh a lot while we played it though.

All in all, I had a great time. Thanks again Marlene for hosting such a great time!!!