Simply Devine

2009-10-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

CUTEST DOG COMPETITION vote for HUCK & DOO

2009-10-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

CUTEST DOG COMPETITION vote for HUCK & DOO
Posted Oct-12-09 09:05:14 PDT I am hoping to help a friend, George Rossi out by posting this request to all of my Blogger community friends and cohorts. We have little time left in this competition and the next two weeks are crucial to Huck & Doo's survival in the cutest dog competition. So please go vote for Huckleberry and Doodle and keep these little doggies in the competition!!

What is this you ask? This is a cutest dog competition and EVERY vote counts!! You can go to their homepage @ http://www.huckanddoo.com/ and click on how to vote for Huck & Doo for instructions on how to vote. Next scroll down to the right side column where it says cutest dog competition; enter here. If you are not already registered, please do so. It's quick & very simple. Requires an email & a password that you create.

You will be voting for Huckleberry and Doodle [shih tzu from Skaneateles, NY]. It is very important that you search their full names & not the nicknames of Huck & Doo. Bookmark their homepage so you remember to vote daily. You can vote once a day, everyday, so PLEASE vote for these little doggies =)

If you vote for Huck & Doo please add a comment to this blog and let me know what number vote you were. This helps me to keep score on how many people I have helping me; help George =) Thank you in advance!!!

Looks Like Another Week of Chaos...

2009-08-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Well folks, here it is...again...Monday morning. Lately, I have grown to dislike Mondays. A lot!! And I'm usually pretty good about getting up early & going about my daily business. Not today. I just rolled out of bed around 9:40 and want nothing more than to crawl back under the covers and hide my head. Already I have taken five phone calls, one being from my lawyer. Not really the news I was hoping for, but I'll deal with whatever comes down the road. It seems like my attitude has shifted drastically from last week & while I was so sure that I could deal with my emotions, along comes heartbreak. Today I have calling hours; tomorrow a funeral. Not how anyone wants to start their week, but this is afterall, what we call life. And life happens not always as we plan, but nonetheless, it does happen.

I have so much on my mind lately that sometimes it is hard to stay focused on what really needs to get done. This week I need to register for fall classes, meet my Friday deadline, school shop, prep my taxes, birthday shop, go to appointments; I mean really, it just goes on and on. Definitely not enough hours in this week for me and yet here I sit in front of my computer, perplexed and not really caring at the moment. I almost feel like I am just going through the motions, and not really dealing with the emotions. Maybe that's a good thing; at least for today.

Maybe I will do double time at the gym tonight. After "fasting" for three days, I am actually feeling kind of hungry. Low on energy right now, but I am thinking that maybe some good will come out of this. To date, since the very beginning of July I have lost a total of 42 pounds & I am kicking ass and loving it! I get ridiculed by family & friends for my "crash diet" as they call it, but I really don't care as I am the one who is losing the weight. I feel better on so many levels. And when all is said and done, not only will I have a healthy body, but a healthy mind and that is most important to me...

More Cards...

2009-08-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but I am actually lacking ambition at this hour to post details; here are some pix of the latest cards I have made:

HANDBAGS....

2009-08-13T03:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed gals who sit their handbags on public toilet floors, then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?(Personally, I hung mine around my neck the last time I found there was no available hook.) Happens a lot!

It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress.. Sometimes "what you don't know will hurt you"!

Read on...

Mom got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.

It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day.

"I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a lot," says one woman. "On the floor of my car, and in toilets."

"I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the toilet," says another woman "and of course in my home which should be clean."

We decided to find out if handbags harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake, and then we set out to test the average woman's handbag.

Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.

Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their handbags were at least a little bit dirty.

It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked.

Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the handbags could make people very sick.

In one sampling, four of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. "There is fecal contamination on the handbags" says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.

The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. "Some type of feces, or possibly vomit" says Amy.

So the moral of this story is that your handbag won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat.

Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop.

Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair of shoes.

"If you think about putting a pair of shoes onto your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your handbag on the countertops" -

Your handbag has gone where individuals before you have sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc!

Do you really want to bring that home with you?

The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather handbags.

THIS IS WORTH SHARING!!!

Michael Vick Reinstated?!!

2009-07-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here I go again. I'm kind of on the back side of the fence with this one. There is no doubt that Michael Vick was one hell of a runner [quarterback], but what the hell is everyone thinking?! For those of you who may not remember, this man ran a dogfighting ring for a profit!! He and three other men participated in the killing of dogs that did not perform well in test fights by shooting, hanging, drowning or slamming them into the ground. What sick s.o.b. does that to an animal?!! I just don't see how the NFL can even consider reinstating him!! What the hell was Roger Goodell thinking when he made that decision?! Vick may have been a talent, but how do you let something like that slide?

I know many will disagree with me by saying that he paid his dues. What about the dead dogs? Do they not count because they are already dead?! There are some things in life you can let slide and it is acceptable, but this, this is definitely not acceptable. What kind of message is the NFL sending out to our younger generation? I mean, come on...these guys are supposed to be role models!! Sounds like somebody needs to get a clue!!

"Paying Respect to Those Who Deserve It!"

2009-07-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this, stop and think about this one for a minute, will you?!!

Have you stopped to thank a veteran today? For the price of freedom they had to pay? Did you gaze into those distant eyes? Did you see the ghosts he can't deny? Did you think a soldier's heart was made of steel? Because he was trained to kill, he couldn't feel? Did you see the guilt written on his face, For the loss of life he can't replace? Did you know he mourns the lives he couldn't save, And walks with comrades in their grave? Did you remember the boy with innocence lost? Do you really know war's ultimate cost? Have you felt the blast of artillery fire? Do you have the courage it would require? Have you stood in trenches consumed with fear? Felt the enemies breath so very near? Have you walked with God on a battleground? Seen your brothers dead or dying all around? Have you stopped to thank a vet today, Or did you just turn and walk away? From the pain he'll carry for the rest of his life, Did you consider his family, his children, his wife? That watch him suffer in silence each and every day, As he's haunted by memories that don't go away? Did you care that the soldier is still pulling guard? That his heart, mind, and soul will forever be scarred? Do you know how he suffers from ptsd? Or that our precious freedom is never free? Do you care that he still hears the blood curdling screams? Or that he returns to the war each night in his dreams? Have you felt the sorrow of a combat vet? Or would you rather just forget? That war has pierced his hardened heart, And torn this soldier all apart? Would you rather our heroes just fade away? Or will you stop to thank a vet today?....

2009-07-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

Isn't this just beautiful?! I'm not sure who the author is, but I absolutely love it. I couldn't have put it better myself. Sometimes you just have to sit back and take it all in. Life happens. Each and every day that we breathe, life is good. And those lessons in life, good or bad, happen for a reason. And without them, we wouldn't be who we are today. Life is too short to not want to live it to the fullest. So read the following entry below, and really, just take it all in and absorb it. It's all good.

2009-07-25T16:37:00.001-07:00

I believe that sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there. They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: your roommate, neighbor, professor, long lost friend, lover or even a complete stranger who, when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way. Sometimes things happen to you and at the time they may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart. Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. Safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life and the successes and downfalls you experience, they are the ones who create who you are. Even the bad experiences can be learned from... those lessons are the hardest and probably the most important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who you open your heart to. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them. Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen, let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you either. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it. What obstacles will you overcome today?

2008-11-15T21:48:00.000-08:00

Card Mojo Coming Back?

2008-11-06T04:32:00.000-08:00

Mmmm...I wonder? For those of you who may not remember, I make and send a lot of cards to deployed troops so that they have something to send home to their families & friends. Last Christmas I ended up buying what I could not make and believe me, it was close to a thousand cards! Anyhow, I had been burnt out for almost the entire year and couldn't bring myself to make the simplest of cards. Thanks to all of the wonderfully talented ladies (and men, if there are any) with blog sites because I feel like I have been able to recover what I like to call my "card mojo". Not that I haven't cased a few cards and added my own twist to them, but I actually was able to get my own creativeness flowing and came up with a few cards that I am actually proud of. For awhile, I started making simple cards but didn't really feel like I had accomplished anything. Do you have days like that?

With the crunch of the holidays coming up, I am usually running on empty this time of year because I am up until the wee hours of the morning making special orders that I get through my eBay store, http://stores.ebay.com/Gwendolyns-Boutique. But this year things have slowed down and I am guessing it is because of the economy. I cannot say that I miss the hustle & bustle of cranking out nightgown & pajama sets for children & adults alike, but I do feel a sense of calmness and I am rather liking it. Weird, huh? Maybe this year I can get everything done that I planned on doing every year for the past ten years (lol)!! Oh, so you DO know what I mean?! It's nice to know that I am not alone. I always have such big ideas for the holidays but sometimes (okay, most times!) I always fall short of my own expectations. Maybe I ask too much of myself. But I don't know many women who don't. I think we always expect more from ourselves than others do. At least those of us who aim to over-achieve do.

Once again, I have drifted away from what I was really talking about. Cards. It seems that I have a little more time to actually sit down and make the cards the way that I want to. And the end result is so much better when we take our time, isn't it? I am the type of person who needs to be in the mood to sew and with me, it kind of comes in waves. I can sew for weeks and then not want to look at any of my sewing machines for months afterwards. So most of my cards now are not sewn for that very reason! My mother, on the other hand is one of those people who can sew 24/7! There are some days that I wish I were more like that.

Well, onto the better stuff now...my cards!! I tell you, I am not so good at posting daily...or weekly...or monthly for that matter!! My bad!! I have always said that I would make an effort and fell short of my word for various reasons...mostly life happens. So I am trying yet again. Who knows, we might all be surprised this time around (lol)!

This first card is one of my favorites. I absolutely LOVE pink and brown together. I teamed up pink pirouette with chocolate chip and just kept layering. Stamp sets used are Magnolia Tilda and SU! Best Yet. I added a little dimension to the tag, hat & skirt by adding foam adhesive. I also lightly sponged creamy caramel to the edge of the white cardstock and pink pirouette to the pink cardstock. Ribbed pink ribbon is Michael's store brand.

Next card also has a Magnolia Tilda image from the heavenly collection. I used the scallop circle die from SU! (big shot) and teamed that up with CM circle cutters (I forgot I had those) and inked the edges before layering them. The designer paper is Bella Rose from SU! Just love that paper! Photo corner tag punch and Cute & Curly designer punch kit from SU! used. Pink Gems are from Martha Stewart (these are the best I have used so far).

And that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

SCRAPBOOK PAGES

2008-08-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Lately I haven't been in the card making mood. Does anyone else go through this? I am calling it a dry spell for now as I just feel like I am burnt out. It happens to the best of us. You would think with all of the new techniques out, I would be on top of my game. But it just isn't happening for me. So I decided to dapple in scrapbooking for awhile and this is what I came up with. I found myself sewing mattes & making paper piecing's and have since concluded that I really like doing this. It's almost like a therapy for me. My mind goes to mush and I drown out all surrounding noises. Oh, so you do know what I mean?! Great! Well, at least I know that there are several of us out there:o) We're not alone! Anyhow, check out these layouts. Not too horrible for someone who doesn't scrapbook too much. At least I think they are okay:o)

MORE TIME TO PLAY?

2008-01-10T14:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I tried to commit to blogging more often but as it turns out, I have had way too much on my plate. Bet you all know that feeling though, huh? I have decided to give a few things up so I can have a little more free time to blog. I really think that I enjoy looking at everyone else's work more though. There are some really awesome ideas floating around out there! I may have cased a few (wink). I haven't made too many cards lately, but I managed to make a few this week. I even listed them on ebay and was really disappointed when they didn't sell. My cards usually sell. But I have noticed that many auctions are ending without sales. Must be that time of year. Although I have to say, I did have two ladies email me and ask if my information was stamped on the back of the card. If it was blank, they were both interested. Well it wasn't, so they weren't! Oh, well. I guess I have some cards that I can add to my collection now. Prior to the holidays I had completely depleted all of my cards & I had quite the collection. I sent them to some troops that are in Iraq. It was well worth doing that, as it was only a small gesture on my part but now I need to build my "stash" back up again (smile). I am getting alot of help from my friend Paula. That woman can make cards! Well, I must run. But I will leave you with the few that I made.

CHILDREN'S CARDS

2007-10-20T05:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here are two children's cards that I have recently made. I never really know what I am going to do with the layouts because if it isn't appealing for the child, it really isn't a hit then, is it? I love this new Oscar the Grouch stamp that I just bought online and Raggedy Ann & Andy are a classic that will never go out of style. This really wasn't meant for Christmas cards, but I thought I would try it anyway. I like it, don't you?

SCRAPBOOK PAGE LAYOUTS - MARINES

2007-10-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a long time since I have worked on any scrapbook pages. I was afraid that I might have lost my touch, but surprisingly, they turned out okay. Next I plan on working on some for my own albums which sad to say, I have neglected them for too long.

CHRISTMAS CARDS "SNOWY"

2007-10-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

I love the way that these cards turned out. And I really like the papers that I used from from basic grey. I think it gives the cards a little something extra. I wasn't quite sure about the marshmallow face snowman, but now that I have the cards made up, I like it as well as the snowy the snowman cards.

2007-09-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

2007-09-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth.....

2007-09-27T04:17:00.000-07:00

It has been such a long time since I have last blogged. I will try to work on this! I belong to so many other groups that sometimes I spread myself really thin. You all know that feeling though, don't you?! Long overdue is a thank you to Paula and Sumi. Paula had put up a really lovely set from flourishes as a way to get some of us to help Sumi out with some Christmas cards for her soldiers. Sumi picked the winner. I hope alot of you participated because our guys & gals look forward to receiving packages. And cards are like gold where they are stationed. I will post my winning card below & a few others that I have worked on since my last post. Hope you enjoy them.

September 11, 2001 WE MUST NEVER FORGET

2007-09-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

A moment of silence in the memory of those lost in the terrorist attacks
on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center in New York City, The Pentagon
in Washington D.C. and Somerset County, Pennsylvania...

We must go forward, but we will never forget.

2007-09-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

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2007-09-02T17:57:00.001-07:00

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Vacation in Lake George

2007-09-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally went on our vacation. Our boys were so excited to leave. The only thing that they did not look forward to was the long drive. It really isn't far, but for teenage boys, it's the end of the world! The weather was beautiful. High 90's all week long. Well, except for the nasty little storm that blew over the mountains with nickle sized hail and knocked the power out just long enough to put all of the local restaurants two hours behind! The sky went from blue to dark grey in a matter of seconds and I was outside taping all of it. My husband thought I was a nut! But other than the storm, it was fun and relaxing. We decided to jump on a steamboat and go around the lake one afternoon. There were so many people on the lake that day. That is the only trouble with tourist season. People who know nothing about boating are (unfortunately...sigh) actually allowed to rent boats. Talk about scary...eeek!! Saratoga has their horse racing this time of year too and it seems to bring people from all over the world to this one area. I was hoping I could get creative and bring some of my pictures to life, but there were just too many distractions. Better luck next time!

Bad to the Bone

2007-09-02T17:16:00.001-07:00

Thought we could use a little fun today! I put this card together with designer paper from Reminisce. They have some really cute holiday papers. I really wanted to use my new Batty for You stamp set, but I wasn't quite sure how I was going to use it. I think that it goes pretty good with my skeleton stamp from PSX. The card is so bright & vibrant! Perfect for those who truly love Halloween!

Petal Me Up

2007-09-02T17:10:00.001-07:00

I was really inspired when I saw a similar card made up in burgundy & moss. I thought I would take it a step further and add extra layers of petals & finish it off with a button brad that coordinates with the K & Company specialty paper I have used.

Green Friends

2007-09-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

I thought this was one of the cutest stamps ever. My collection of Penny Black is getting as big as my Stampin' Up collection (well, no, not really...but it could be...someday). PB stamps are so fun to work with. I have used two different stamps for this card. Both from Penny Black. The inside verse is on the same stamp as what is on the outside and it says weren't you old enough last year? Too cute! When you are lucky enough to find a verse stamp that goes very well with an image stamp, it just seems to pull the entire card together. I have used little gems, brads, a small prima & very little organdy ribbon to pull this card together.

Pretties

2007-09-02T17:04:00.001-07:00

I love the new Pretties kit from Stampin' Up. You can use pastels, inks or watercolors on these flowers and it gives them a whole new look. I thought I would try using some plain white daisy trim in place of ribbon. You can buy this at any fabric store and it is fairly cheap. I have been experimenting with lace & other trims that you would normally use for clothing and I think that it looks pretty good. Sometimes less is more. I have used double sided paper from K & Company to create this look. Who says pink and brown don't go together?!

Purple for a Friend

2007-09-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I have had many requests for purple cards lately. This friend of mine is crazy for purple. So I thought I would make a couple more Halloween cards. I am not a really big cat person even though we have two,(more of a dog fan myself) but anyways...I just love this stamp. It is so cute! It is hard to see, but there is a cat in the birdhouse looking out. It would have been better if I colored the cat black, but then you wouldn't have been able to see it very good. I think it came out okay this way. Plus, it was a big hit for my friend & she's pretty picky!
Next, I used Batty for You, which is new in the (SU)caddy this year. I teamed it up with the witch from Spooks Galore (at least that's what I think it is called) and tried to go for a look that was more appropriate for children. I used lots of chalk & ink for both of these cards. Especially the 1st card. It was a little time consuming, but it was worth it, I think.

2007-08-29T15:56:00.001-07:00

Family Vacation at Lake George

2007-08-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

2007-08-29T00:31:00.001-07:00

2007-08-28T16:38:00.001-07:00

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2007-08-20T09:41:00.001-07:00

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

2007-08-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

Went to Joann’s the other day. I found some beautiful specialty paper by K & Company. It was on sale too, and I was excited to find such wonderful bargains on everything that I had wanted to purchase. Well, forty five minutes later I was on my way out of the store when this woman comes flying through the door from the other side with a full cup of coffee, no lid. (gee, can you only imagine what happened next?!) You guessed it. HOT! HOT! HOT! Right down the front of me (and in my bags, of course). The woman just looked at me and said great! So much for a cup of coffee. Why don't you watch where you are going?! I couldn't believe it! Here I am standing in the doorway with hot coffee all over me and all she was worried about was not having her coffee to drink. It was she who ran into me, not the other way around!
After that little altercation, I had wondered over to a nearby bench and I looked in my bag. My paper was ruined! I was really bummed out. I went back into Joann's (where they were nice enough to sympathize and ask if I was okay) and surprisingly, the manager had refunded my money. What I really wanted, was the paper! It was the last book on the shelf. The cashier starting flipping through the pages, but they were pretty much soaked with coffee. The good news is another nearby store (25 miles) had one book left and they saved it for me (yeah!) so I ran over and bought it (plus another design that the 1st store didn’t have). And yes, I bought another shirt before I went over! Couldn't do too much about the pants, although I did soak everything when I got home. I got my paper, that was the important thing! It really doesn't take too much to make me happy when it comes to my little goodies (smile). Anyhow, I was able to go upstairs into my studio and make a couple of real beauties.