Happy Thanksgiving All!

Curtis, Erin, and I hope that you and yours have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving. We kicked off our holiday season last night by attending (for the third year in a row!) the amazing "Christmas In The Park" at Longview Lake, sponsored by KUDL radio. The weather was beautiful, and we enjoyed snuggling together and watching the beautiful fireworks choreographed to holiday music. In just a few moments, I'll be making some yummy pumpkin/cream cheese bread and a cheeseball, and we'll be heading up to St. Joseph to spend the day with Curt's family. I hope that you have a wonderful "day of thanks" today with those that you love, too.

I'd like to ask that you keep some special people in your hearts and prayers. My mom has the very beginnings of double pneumonia. This isn't the first time this has happened to her. In sum, a cold became bronchitis became pneumonia. She's being treated with some strong medication, which is wonderful, but there's no medication stronger than prayer. Please send those her way if you would. I also would like to ask your prayers for a sorority sister of mine, Jennifer (yes, I know I said I'd not use names in my blog...for a prayer request, I think it's OK). When Hurricane Katrina hit, my sorority began an "adopt-a-sister" program, pairing women harmed by the storm with those of us away from the storm and able to help. I finally got Jennifer's name and contact information, and we talked last night for the first time. She sure has an amazing spirit for someone who has gone through what she and her family have gone through. Luckily, all they've lost are physical possessions...her family and her fiancee's family are all safe and accounted for. Still, the heartbreak and sadness and devastation is so, so real to them. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts.

With that, I'm off to work on what I hope will be some yummy cream cheese pumpkin bread. Be blessed and well, all. Happy Thanksgiving!

Just A Quick Pop-In

Hi everyone. Just stopping in to say howdy ("howdy!"). It's been a nuts last few days. Here's a rundown, in brief, of what's new in the life of your favorite minty miss:

* A former colleague and very sweet, sweet spirit passed away unexpectedly this week. Due to family illness (Curt's been sick), we were unable to attend the services yesterday. My heart goes out to Dana's surviving family and friends. May God bless you and keep you close in your hour of sadness and loss. And Dana, Heaven is an even warmer and sweeter place with you there. Thank you for being my friend while you were here. You will be missed.

* "Legally Blonde" and "Madagascar" are great movies. New to the Smith household, and enjoyed by all. Echoed throughout our home are continued repeats of "We like to move it, move it..."

* I've spent the week developing training on the new DoD-wide personnel system, and am sick-to-death of it. I'm behind the eight ball (was supposed to be ready to teach it this upcoming Tuesday...yeah, right) and am so incredibly ready to be done with it (and this job altogether). Instead of working on the training, I spent one entire day this week job surfing and putting in for HR positions all over the city. Two big HR positions with a certain, unnamed (but mega important) Federal HR agency close this week, and you'd better believe I'll be applyin'. More on this to come.

* Bo-Bice-Of-My-Heart is in the latest "People" magazine with a beautiful shot of his precious family together. Caroline is just lovely, and there aren't the words to describe how gorgeous their new son is. Just beautiful. What a blessing. I pre-ordered his brand new dualdisc today at Borders, and I can't wait for it to come! (December 13th is how many days away?) I have it on good authority that he'll be making some television appearances around that time ("The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on the 5th, the "Billboard Music Awards" on the 6th, either "The Today Show" or "Live With Regis And Kelly", or maybe both, on the 9th, and an unnamed show on the Oxygen network on the 11th) to market the album. Oh, and Bo's also a candidate for "Best Reality Star" at the VH1's "Big In '05" awards show airing in early December (can anyone EMAIL me the date?) Please go to the VH1 website now and cast your vote for Bo!

* Carrie Underwood's new album is amazing. I'm diggin' "Before He Cheats." Good stuff indeed. Watch the girl get a Grammy for Best New Artist. Just watch.

* An old, dear friend from back home is now online. Welcome to the Blogosphere, Andrea. Hope you enjoy the stay! Everyone, please stop by her blog and say hello!

I'm sure there's more to post, but I'm exhausted and tomorrow's going to be a bear of a day, so off to bed I go. Have a good one, folks!

Farewell, Indian Summer (Subtitled: Who Turned The Lights Out?)

Well, it's looking like those warm and sunshine-y days of November are over and done with. Today, it was downright bonechilling here in the metro KC area. And we had some rain and snow (!!!). Tonight, not ten minutes after I stepped foot in the door, the entire city of Gardner experienced a blackout. Thanks to some deliciously scented Yankee Candles and one very large (unscented) flashlight, we survived the 30-or-so-minute darkness. We're back on now, and it looks like all systems are a-go. And a-go is what I'm about to do...go off for dinner and my evening with my family. Snuggle up to you and yours and be warm, friends. Goodnight! :)

Adventures In Felting

Well, I did it! I actually felted something! I've wanted to try felting for the longest time. Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of felted crochet patterns out there. I did stumble in to one that I thought was adorable, Deneen's "Marvelous Fulled Mini Tote," and I just couldn't resist it. The bag came out nicely. The dimensions pre-felting were 12" across and 10" tall. Here's a photo:



And here's what my little tote looked like post-felting:



Given it to do again, I'd have given it more than one spin through the felting cycle. Still, I'm pleased with it. It's so tiny and cute! It's new dimensions are 8" across and 8" tall. I used Paton's Classic Merino Wool yarn in Winter White.

I think I know exactly who I will gift this little sweetie to... :)

A Quiet Sunday Morning

Hi all. Just wanted to pop in and say "howdy" before starting my Sunday. Hope you've all had a great weekend. I'm beginning to come out of my flu slump (thank GAWD), and I actually feel somewhat human today (*knock on keyboard*). We had a family night together last night and it was so, so nice. We took Erin to see the adorable "Chicken Little" (in 3D!) and had dinner at Lonestar Steakhouse in Overland Park. During the day yesterday, I went to a holiday expo sponsored by my Longaberger consultant and a few of her friends who sell other in-home sales products (Discovery Toys, Home Interiors, Tastefully Simple, etc.). Was a fun time and I actually got a little holiday shopping done, which was nice. Today, I'm going up to our sorority house at Baker for the chapter's third annual "Alumnae Tea" and then try to felt a wool handbag I crocheted. We'll see how that works. Updates to follow.

I've been awful about not posting photos to my blog. I've had them scanned and sitting on my Flickr account, but just not posted here. So, here goes nothin'...enjoy! (And yes, I know I need to get my Vegas pics up from May! I know!)



"Come on Maaa-ggggy...let's do the twist!"



Because once is never enough!



Sorry for the crummy photo quality on this one. As you know, I spent almost all of October on the road. When I got home at month's end, a wonderful surprise was waiting for me. I'd ordered a special Bo Bice CD from Hue Bell at the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church, only to find that the CD was accompanied by a special DVD as well. Thanks so much, Hue!

Back in August, I made a set of homemade cards as a gift for my Mom for her birthday. My thought was that she might enjoy giving away homemade cards to her friends versus buying them commercially. Here are shots of those cards:



Here's the cover of the first card. When I bought the "Farm Fresh" stamp set from Stampin' Up, I had no idea how much I'd like it. SU products used on this card include that stamp set, Creamy Caramel cardstock, black ink, the Versamark pad, Stampin' Dimensionals, and The Tearing Edge. The cream-colored cardstock and colored pencils aren't from SU.



And here's the inside of that card. I used the (now retired) Close to Cocoa ink and "Monkey Business" stamp set and also The Tearing Edge from SU. Again, the cream-colored cardstock isn't from SU.



Here's the second card. All products used are from SU - "Monkey Business" stamp set, cardstock in Mellow Moss, Barely Banana, and Creamy Caramel, ink in Close To Cocoa, Mellow Moss buttons, the Versamark pad, and The Tearing Edge.



And here's the inside of that card. Same SU products used on the inside that were used on the outside, minus the buttons and Mellow Moss cardstock and Versamark.



Here's card #3. Again, all products used are from SU. (Can't tell that I'm an SU addict, can you?) I used the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, cardstock in Taken With Teal and Pretty In Pink, Pretty In Pink buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals (I love those things), and the 3/8" white organdy ribbon.



Here's the fourth card, again made entirely with SU products. I love this stamp set. It's called "Friend To Friend" and it's got beautiful sentiments. The cardstocks are Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, and Barely Banana, and I also used the Eggplant Envy ink (now retired), the 3/8" white organdy ribbon, The Tearing Edge, and Stampin' Dimensionals. This card came out really pretty.



Here's the inside of that card. The curvy scissors I used aren't from SU, but everything else is. That "Happy Birthday" came from the "Friend To Friend" stamp set. The buttons are in Mellow Moss, the ink is Eggplant Envy, and the cardstocks are Perfect Plum and Barely Banana.



Here's card #5. All products used are from SU, and include the following: the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, Barely Banana and Mellow Moss cardstock, Forest Foliage ink (now retired), Barely Banana eyelets (I really had a hard time with these), Stampin' Dimensionals, and the 3/8" white organdy ribbon. There HAS to be an easier way to set eyelets. If you've got tips that can help, please send them my way!



Here's the sixth (and my favorite) card of the set. It's almost made entirely in SU products, all except for the white cardstock (that came from Michael's as part of a cardstock pack). Su products used include the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, ink and cardstock in Taken With Teal (I love that color!), the 3/8" white organdy ribbon, and Stampin' Dimensionals. Simple card, yet really pretty. I was proud of how this one came out.



Here are cards seven and eight. Both made entirely in SU products - the "Friend To Friend" and "Happy Hearts" stamp sets, Eggplant Envy ink (now retired), the Versamark pad, cardstock and eyelets in both Perfect Plum and Barely Banana, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

She said she really liked the cards, which made me feel good. I really didn't think I'd love making cards as much as I do. But wow, when that bug bit, it bit HARD!

Earlier this year, the woman who once was our office's secretary became a grandmother for the first time. Here's the card I made for our office (we all signed it):



I wasn't too thrilled with how this one turned out. Click on it to see a bigger version. Can you see the background detail? I used the (SU) "Fabulous Four" and "A New Little Someone" stamp sets, the Versamark pad, carstocks in Brilliant Blue, Taken With Teal, Bliss Blue, and Barely Banana, Night of Navy ink, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Quite some time ago, I discussed a request that someone had made for me to make two of my shawls as gifts. I intentionally kept the name of the requestor secret so that the recipients of the shawl, since they read this blog, wouldn't have the surprise blown for them. It came to pass that one of the shawls was no longer needed (long story), but the other was. It is finished and was given...as a gift from my mother to our wonderful and beloved family friend Linda. It appears below.



I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in Light Country Blue. This yarn is heavenly, but it splits too easily. Still, though, for the money, it's about the prettiest and softest yarn you're going to find. The pattern was on the back of the yarn label. If you'd like me to post it (or EMAIL it to you), please let me know.

Mom found two balls of Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn in Tropical at a local discount store, and I took them and made them in to a scarf for her:



I just free-formed it, using two strands at the same time and a K-hook. I crocheted until I ran out of yarn! It was VERY thick, which I didn't expect. Fun Fur is very pretty, but it's a pain to rip out if you make any mistakes!

OK, with that, I am off to make some blueberry muffins for my family and do some laundry. Have a great day, folks!

So Over-The-Top Happy

Have you ever had an experience that just so pleased and uplifted you? Where you were shining from within and laughing through tears of joy and just totally, totally happy?

I'm having that kind of evening, thanks to a very special friend. I hope he knows just how special he is to us. The gift he gave me tonight just illuminated my heart. I am happy beyond words.

Isn't It Wonderful...

...how one tiny gesture of love and friendship can turn your entire week around?



As I blogged earlier, this has not been a pleasant week for me. Today was about the worst of it, professionally anyway, and all day long, I wondered why I'd even bothered. Why did I bother coming in? Why did I give this day any of my energy, when what I really wanted to do was sleep and rest and hide away from the world? And I got home not only to my amazing family, but also to a wonderful surprise from my beautiful Secret Pal. What a ray of sunshine! The Lorna's Laces yarn is absolutely gorgeous, the truffles look SCRUMPTIOUS (hands off, Curt and Erin!), and I can't wait to look at the crochet calendar and "companion!" And that hook bag...yowza! Pretty! I've been storing all of my crochet hooks in a small Mary Kay bag that one of my sorority sisters gave me (she sells MK), and now it's nice to see that my hooks have a beautiful home of their own. Thank you ten thousand times over, Secret Pal! (*hugs to you*)

State Farm called today. Apparently the menace-to-society who caused my accident yesterday has indeed called in a claim. Let's hope that they get my car in and out quick, quick, quick. I don't need to miss any of my life because of this stupid fender-bender.

Last night, Curtis and I went to one of those "complimentary, get-to-know-you" sessions with a local financial planner. I've thought for a long time that it'd be a good idea for us to get a solid financial plan in place...one that allowed us to live very comfortably in retirement while putting Erin through, if she so chose, Harvard or Yale (or Baker!). I strongly believe it's a good idea to be conscious of one's investments, and careful in how decisions are made regarding savings and planning. And so I really thought this was a good idea. Until the fee ($500 per financial plan...every two years!) and the high-pressure sales pitch came. I just about lost my mind. $500 damned dollars to serve as an ADVISER?! For five-hundred-damned-dollars, you'd damned well better be making money (CA$H money) for me twenty-four-freakin'-seven while washing my clothes, telling me how thin and gorgeous I am, and pampering me from head to toe (manicure and pedicure, anyone?) While I am sure that their advice is sage and smart, I'm just not certain I need to pay $500 for it. I've yet to do this, but something tells me that if I Google or YAHOO! the string "how to develop a financial plan," I'd come up with maaaaaaaaaany different templates and approaches. So tell me, friends, is the initial investment worth it? Should we actually sign on with a formal, official financial planner? Or can we do just as well on our own? We're smart, well-educated people. We can do this on our own (with some minimal assistance), right?

Dammit, I thought "The Apprentice" was on at 9 (it's 8:38) and my darling husband is telling me it's on right now. I didn't set the damned DVR to capture it, either. Grrrrowl. I'm off before I miss "ER." Night, folks!

(Oh, before I go, check out this precious photo of my Maggy...



She doesn't look grouchy, does she? *grin* Goodnight, friends!)

Arf?

Sick. As. A. DOG. God-damned flu. This has not been a good week, folks. I've been sick all week and yesterday, on my first day back to the office, I was in a three-car accident on the drive in to the office! I told the police officer that I should have just stayed the hell in bed! Lucikly, no one was seriously hurt and all of our cars are OK (and it won't be MY insurance premiums that rise!) Just not been a good week, folks. The good news is that tomorrow's a Federal holiday, so at this time tomorrow a.m., your favorite Minty Fresh Sweetheart will be FAST ASLEEP. Which is where she should be now. Unfortunately, the office and my 100-mile-long "To Do" list beckon, so off I go to work...

Have a good one, folks.

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree...

...and that's all I've got to say about it. I refuse to let the ignorance and idiocy of others adversely affect me. I just refuse. God has given me only so much energy and time today. I won't waste one second more of it on those people. They're just not worth it.

(If you can't tell, I've not had a good day. Not at all. I am so over-the-top furious right now that it's not even funny. But to waste both my energy and the bandwidth of this blog to bloviate about it would be truthfully, both a waste of my resources and your time and energy as a reader. So, fuck it, it's over and I'm done. Unhappily done, but done nonetheless.)

Hi everyone. Sorry that you've had to wait several days for a post only get one filled with vitriol and ugly. The last few days haven't been pleasant. I'm still not back on "Kansas City time" after having traveled so much in the last few weeks. I'm not sleeping well, and I've really not felt like myself ever since I've been home. Curtis is coming down with something, and I feel like I may have the trappings of an early flubug as well. (*sigh*) Not good. My girls were throwing one of our famous adult toy parties last night, and I had to skip out last second. I just didn't have the oomph to go, and boy did I feel like an asshole about it. I love those girls dearly and muchly...I just didn't have the energy to make it. It turns out that having stayed home was the best thing. I got a phone call from an old, dear friend. Someone I was once close to passed away suddenly after what you and I would commonly refer to as a "routine illness." His body, as I understand it, just failed to respond to the medicine they gave him, and he just gave out and passed away. He was only 34 years old. So, so sad. I wish I'd been a stronger person when I knew him and had been more forgiving and less quick to turn inside and run away at the first sight of conflict or misunderstanding. Perhaps had I been the better person, he and I would have remained friends. It was good to hear from my dear friend last night...it'd been ages since I'd heard her voice. I just wish it had been under happier circumstances.

I am so, so sad.