A challenge to all my blogger friends to give back...

One of my blogger friends over at the Junie Moon is commited to doing the right thing and give back to others! I wanted to showcase her wonderful cause and I am hoping and calling on all those who knit and crochet. To please help this wonderful woman in her crusade to help with bandages for people who are suffering with leprosy.
It seems that something so small would help so many of those suffering. You could easily do this watching a favorite T.V. show or listening to the radio. I challenge each of you who can KNIT or CROCHET to make 5-10 rolls and send them to June! You can also help by posting her link back to her. To get the word out. I am blessed and want to help June in this cause. I want to get the word out to help these poor people who are suffering so.

Make this one New Year's resolution that all of us can keep...I wish all of you love and a very blessed life. I have no doubts that the blogging commmunity can step up to this simple challenge. I know you all can do your part...even a small part. Here is the link to dear June's blog and the post on her cause.

Junie Moon's Bandage Brigade

And to see the good work of all the Bandage Brigades check out this blog also and see how June has touched people's lifes.
Touching Others with Leprosy

With much love,

Our first year Anniversary!

A year ago today...my bestfriend and I were wed. Nothing fancy but simple and quiet. Jim and I were married during the late morning hour at the county clerk's office. It wasn't some judge but just a clerk who said those scared vows. We only invited our wedding party. See, we had planned on a big wedding but those have since been put on a shelf for now. Jim is a Correctional Officer, and his job is very dangerous, he felt it very important to make things offical...for the 'just in case'. My mom was very pleased because we had been engaged for over 2 years, so she for one was pleased. We were too, but still are going to have 'our wedding' one day. We both plan on the dress and tux and a wonderful party...someday! But for now we are relishing our one year mark as a offical married couple!

Only our closest and dearest friends and family witnessed our union. It was very intimate and very romantic. My parents hosted a luncheon afterwards at the Rio City Cafe. Which every year we will go back and enjoy our memories of that wonderful day. I had purchased roses from Costco to save money. The bouquet in this picture is made from 4 dozen Costco roses. All the ladies loved it and thought it fantastic that I made it. We bought simple bands to wear. And Jim wore his Correctional Officer uniform for the ceremony and myself (with the help of my bestfriend) wore a simple black skirt and silvery, 3/4 sleeve , fancy top. My bestfriend paid to have my hair styled and had my nails done the day before (mani and pedi). She too, wanted me to remember this very special day! It was lovely to see everyone in their finest and coming to witness our union. Each of our friends and family said they wouldn't have missed it for the world. Even though it was on a Friday...some even took the day off to be there.

To the love of my life ~ though this first year has had some rough patches we have seen through them together. I have learned so much from our mistakes and celebrated all of our accomplishments. I love you with no boundries and love you truly. Thank you for choosing me to be your life partner and loving me through and through! Even though we have some distance,the distance truly has made our hearts grow more and have brought us so close to each. We both truly value our limited time together, and no longer let small things bring us down. Instead, we covet our time and rediscover each other all over again. Your warm smile and even warmer eyes, your soft touch and your even softer words. I love you Jim and have all our ten years together. (Jim and I have been together for ten years and married one of those ten)

Thank you friends for letting me celebrate our anniversary!

All that is Christmas...

I want to share with all of you my family's newest tradition. My mom hosts a Christmas Tea annually for the last 4 years. It all started when our newest addition to our family was born. My sister's first baby boy. That same year my mom decided that it would be a great new tradition to start as a symbol of new beginnings. So,four years later brings us to our '2007 Christmas Tea'. Above you see my sister's oldest son and middle daughter decorating Gne'ma's tree. My mom sets out the best china (which has been passed down for that last 80 years). And she sets out a basket of ornies for the grandchildren to put on Gne'ma and Grumps tree (as you see above). My mom makes wonderful tiny sandwiches with wonderful groups of flavors. She makes 4 wonderful teas for us 'girls' to try, as the children drink their milk.
We all sit around the table and share what we have done that day or what plans we have come up with. This year the children were all a buzz about being on the POLAR EXPRESS. Yes, you heard me right. The Polar Express came into our town, Old Sacramento. My sister bought the tickets (which looked like the ones in the movie)and they all wore their PJs. The Hobo came on board as did the Conducter, too. The chef came out, and dancing waiters came out singing the 'hot..hot..hot chocolate' song. All the children received hot coco. And then the big DEAL...guess who came on board next...SANTA! To each child he handed them a BELL. Just like in the movie...and said 'remember to believe!' My oldest nephew was just a gush of emotions that makes Christmas so beautiful and magical! He BELIEVES!
Gne'ma then sets out plates of wonderful and famous goodies out in front of us all. We ...aaaahhhh and ooohhhhh and then pick up our favorites. My oldest nephew was all ready to jump in and Gne'ma was ready to help!

A couple days prior my bestfriend and I went to a fabulous Christmas production, called 'The Singing Christmas Tree, Christmas around the world'. The production takes place at one of the biggest churches in the Sacramento area, Capitol Christian Center.

I sent the invitation to Adrien ezplaining that the dress attire was a dress-up mystery trip! As some of you know, Adrien and I both plan mystery trips for each other on alternating months. It just happened to be my month, December and I planned this.

We walked into the foyer and saw the most beautiful site...Christmas trees representing different countries on display. I unfortantly forgot to take a photo. But did take some of the show. The one above is telling us the little story of how German children celebrate Christmas...with gingerbread!






The last couple days have been a whirlwind of sorts. But what fun I am having rediscovering the spirit of Christmas! I hope all of you are having such fun during these last days before Christmas. I truly am. And love being with my family and friends. These lasts days have meant alot to me and love sharing some of those moments with you all!

Color Me Mine

I just had to show everyone what I just got back! My bestfriend Adrien and I surprised another friend to a girl's night out! But we didn't do the typical thing. We went to a lovely place called Color Me Mine. It is where you can paint greenware with different glazes and then they glaze it with a clear coat and then fire it! It then turns into a wonderful ceramic piece. Just like the one above. This piece is actually my second piece. It is a flower pot which is going to be turned into a pen and pencil holder. I will place clear, flat, glass marbles in the pot and then place my pens and pencils I use all the time.

The saucer part of the flower pot is going to be my paper clip and push pins holder. I love the whole cupcake and 'let's celebrate' theme, so that is why I went with the cupcakes and polka dots everywhere on the pot and the party hat inside the saucer.



Those are the finished products. But here are a few more photos from that night. It was 'wear your PJs' and get the paint sitting fee for free. But acutally they were running the day after Thanksgiving special so it was still free.



Here is how your glazes come...isn't that cute!


It was truly a very relaxing night and one filled with creativity as well!

Here is the link for Color Me Mine

My hospital unit's Christmas Party & Glacier makes his appearence, too!

We had our Annual Christmas Party on December 1st! What a way to start off the holiday season. There were about 30 of us and we all had a ball. It was potluck and we had some wonderful dishes...we all had very full tummys. One of our RN's held it at her house (2nd year in a row). And the spirits were flowing and people were merry. We all had our designated drivers, too! Every year I help plan the annual employee Christmas Party, since our management really doesn't do anything for 'US' the employees for our unit. This started about 8 years ago and I have been planning every since! All the people who showed up are just gems who I work with. We all really do feel like family...heck I spend most of waking hours with these people. We laugh, cry, bicker like family! We have all been there through the births, deaths, birthdays, marriages, divorces, promotions, graduations, sicknesses...you name it these crew has been through it all!




We also do the 'steal a Christmas present Game'! It is a riot and we all love the challenge to steal! And WATCH out...people really get into this game! Lots of catching up and tons of laughter and making wonderful memories! Again, this year was a great turn out (bigger crowd) and better yet the memories that were made...priceless!
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Tonight while I was getting ready to publish a post in my blog...my darling big fuzzface wanted to get into the act! So, I thought since most of you haven't seen my darling pooch, I would show him off tonight! In all his glory! My big ol'boy's name is Glacier! And he is 5 years old but acts like a 3 year old. He is an Alaskan Malamute, I bought him from a breeder up in Calaveras County, CA. He was the second runt in the litter...Hmmm...at 131 pounds I wonder what the alpha of the pack weighs in at? So, my blog friends here he is, with out further ado...Glacier!

All that is EXPO and a tad bit of Mystery!

In the early weeks of November it was my bestfriend's turn at planning our 'Monthly Mystery Trips'...So, at the end of October I received a plain manilla envelope with strict instructions of "don't open this until you get home". I did just that...I waited till arrived at home and tore into the envelope. Where I discovered a chipbroad letter 'F' and smaller chipboard letters of 'u' and 'n'. I looked at it again and realized it spelled out fun! Woohooo! This was going to fun and it turned out to be just that F-U-N! We went to a place called 'Somewhere Fun' in the city of Galt, California. It had video games and basketball shoot out baskets and big inflatables and a very large carousel! And a little snack bar where we got soft baked pretzels with mustard! She had evoked lost childhood memories, lovely childhood memories. It was day of just plain old fashioned fun!



Then from there we went to lunch at Jack in the Box...get it? Carry on with the theme of childhood memories of jack-inthe-boxes...the ones that you wind up and they pop out from the top! I thought it was cute how Adrien was carrying through the theme! And then from there we went to a place called 'Color Me Mine'. I was like a kid in a candy store! Too much fun and right up my alley...crafting of any kind just gets me sqeauling like a pig in a big ol'e mud puddle! Here is a couple shots of what we were painting.

Here is the link for Color Me Mine!



I had a fabulous time as usual with my bestfriend. It was a day of remembered childhood memories and a piece of painted orginal artwork by ME!

Now on to a another fabulous night! One rainy November night there were 12 of us who made our way to the Sacramento Convention Center for SCRAPBOOK EXPO 2007!! WOW! what a night! We cropped from 5-1130pm! We just went to the crop instead of visiting the vendors. So, there we were with us with unbrellas and rolling cropping bags! With scissors in hand and pages to design in our heads we were ready to CROP!


Since we had reserved 3 tables (which by the way it was the biggest reserved table that night) we were allowed to pick up our free goody bag first. We lined up to pick up our hot pink wrist band and goody bag!


I was completely giddy by this time. I was overwhelmed by all the people and rolling cases. I was nervous at the same time! What a fab goody bag it was chuck-full of wonderful items. And we also got to put our name into the raffle. We had come with other ladies from a great store in West Sacramento, called 'Scrapbook Addict'. The owners of the store had decided on coming up with a theme...that all of us would bring RETRO CANDY to share with the other ladies. I brought Mary Janes and Chick-a-Barrels. We had candy rings and pop rocks,etc!


The store had put together their own goody bag for all of us who bought tickets through them to join them at their reserved table. And it all came in a cute water bottle! I got a 'HOT STUFF' vellum in mine!


It was a wonderful night and a much needed break from the stresses in my life! I had fun and won a prize also! I got a lot of my scrapbooking work done and really got to know some of the ladies (I always see on our Friday night crops) better. Here is the whole Scrapbook Addict Gang!

Here is the link to my favorite scrapbook store: The Scrapbook Addict

My bestfriend has diabetes...here is her story!

Well friends it has been a very long while since I have posted on here. I am sorry but had lots of things to do in past weeks. I am glad to be back to post and give you a glimpse of what has been happening in my life.

On a cool, crisp early Saturday morning, my bestfriend's mom, Judy, and I meet up with Adrien. Why, you ask? Because we were there to support her in her walk for finding the cure for a national epidemic...Diabetes! My BF was probably diagnosied a couple years ago...I still remember that fateful phone call. I can remember hearing Adrien tell me to sit down...I said "what is it?" and she came out and told me "I have diabetes..." , I started to cry. I was devastated for her. I have a mother who has been fighting diabetes for the past 10 years and I have seen her stuggles and wins with this horrible diease. I couldn't believe my BF had the dreaded disease.

It has been a struggle for Adrien since her diagnosis. I have seen her go through the wide range of emotions: saddness, angry, denial, withdrawn, etc. In the beginning her symptoms that moved her to go to the doctor's was excessive thrist and very blurred vision. The day she went in they did her blood sugar, it came back in the 300's. It was confirmed she had full blown diabetes.

As much as it is still a struggle today for Adrien, she forges on. Since her diagnosis she has done 3 city walks to collect money for finding the cure. This year will mark her third walk. Each year, more and more people affected by this disease join the ranks. Every year I gain a different perspective of this silent disease. I hear and see the devastation it brings to the people it affects and the families and friends who watch their loved ones struggle with this disease. I have been to all her walks, being her pillar of encouragement and being there at the beginning and the end of her walk! Cheering her on every step she takes to wipe out this disease. Every walk I swell with pride knowing that she is on that day OWNING her disease, she is the captain of her fate on that DAY!

Adrien still struggles each and every day to make the right choices in her lifestyle (as millions of other diabetes do too) towards controlling her disease. Some days are better than others. But even on though those 'not so good' days she still forges on. Adrien has an arsenal of people (family and friend) who care very much about her choices she makes. Because in the end, even though diabetics are not experiencing symptoms, the disease is taking a toll on their systems. It will catch up with diabetics who do not control their eating lifestyles. This is their continual fight...no better to say...it's all of our fight. I am sure just alone in my blogger friends lives we all know someone who is struggling, fighting this undiscriminating disease. My mom, my Aunt, cousin, coworkers, husbands good buddies, new friends, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, husbands, wifes, grandparents, my bestfriend.

I applaud my bestfriend's struggle to learning more and more about her dreaded disease and learning how it doesn't have to own her...she in turn can control her destiny with diabetes. I will continue to support Adrien and be her biggest supporter in her walks to stomping out this national/international epidemic. I will continue to encourage my bestfriend to make the right choices in her life. I will always champion her cause as this disease has affected my own personal family. I am very glad to say that my mom is now off insulin and no longer on diabetic meds, due to finally OWNING her diagnosis and taking charge of it! It doesn't own her, she owns it! Sadly, I now have an Aunt and cousin who just recently joined ranks of millions of diabetics who continue to struggle.

I am truly inspired by these two women in my life. My mom and bestfriend, Adrien. I am in awe how much money Adrien collects each year for the Diabetes Walk. Both Adrien and my mom make me very proud. Truly two very brave women who, (one who is a seasoned veteren of the disease and one who is a fledgling of the disease) both champion for each other and the cause. I urge each of you who read this post to take a moment and take a peek at the website I have listed and become a supporter. Even if you just volunteer for helping out the cause or take a piece of information and pass it along to someone who might need the help. Then thank you for supporting my bestfriend, Adrien and my mom and 20 million of their friends who are stricken with this deadly disease.


National Diabetes Associaton

Oh tell thee, how much you love the Renaissance Faire?!

Well friends...it was my turn to plan a mystery trip for my bestfriend and myself! I choose the Folsom Renaissance Faire! It was different but a blast at the same time! We were some of the first ones in the faire, wearing street cloths. So, in the beginning felt a bit out of place. Soon that was a distant memory as we casually drifted to different venues. Here are some of the first group of people we saw. We saw these Spanish swashbucklers! Yep, they even had the accent down!



We saw knights and ladies in waiting, we saw peasants and royalty! We had fabulous food and even got to see some kick-a** jousting! Yes you heard me right...JOUSTING! Real live-oh-my-on-the-edge-watching jousting! THAT WAS THE MOST fun for Adrien and I both! Got some great photos!


Here were some great pirate-ladies-waitng! They had fab costumes and really fun spirits too! All this was put together through the Saint Matthews Guild. It seems they go all over the country doing these type of faires. All very interesting to me! And Adrien even bought a goblet to remember the day!

And this photo I just loved. The action of this beautiful Beligum and rider (knight) in the throws of real jousting! Gets my blood pumping! Whhoooooaaaa! Love this sport!


Here is more info about the St. Matthew's Guild.

Tada! Here is my Hallween Hat that I made!

A little blurry but I wanted to show all 'the bling' on this hat! I put a gold 'G' for my partners name. And made rosettes with some retro feel ribbon. And one had a buckle added and the other a glittery spider! What I forgot to take a pic of was all the glittery orange polka dots all over the hat( not the brim). It was a very glittery piece! But my motto is...glittery is a girl's bestfriend! teehee!


I loved that my partner wanted 'retro'...I wanted to do a modern retro. With some flash! Why not...right?! I figured this would be used as a display/centerpiece, etc. I also placed a little glittery sign that says 'the witch is in'! LOL! I saw that I had to add it, it made me giggle. This swap was so fun and theraptic. I LOVED it and want to send out big hugs to Heather who hosted it. Heather is from Speckled Egg , you should drop by and say hi!

Thank you to all who left comments about the 'Tag you are it' post. I really enjoyed reading them. You all are blessings to me. (humbly) Thank you.