When life hands you lemons.....

....I'm told if you take one and whip it at someone {really hard} and hit them in the head...it doesn't necessarily make lemonade, but you sure get a good giggle when it hits them! *wink*

Odd lead in.....but.......life has handed me a lemon or two this week.

I got notice on Tuesday that as of January 30, I'm officially unemployed! Eeek! It's gonna be so strange not getting up for work every day, especially since I've worked at my job for 12 years.

I'm actually happy though, I've not been happy in my work for a couple of years. There is a severance, which is good....and a few other "perk payouts" that will make it OK for us for a while.

Two downsides.....my husband is now unemployed {he works in the same industry}, and I now have to most likely watch my friends start leaving.

This is a small town. Very small - about 500 people. And I can't look at one door on my street and see someone who isn't going to be affected by this, either directly or indirectly. It's absolute DOOM for our little island. One has to remain positive and try to weather the storm....if we move, who would buy our home? Where would we go? What would we do? Thankfully my severance will give us a little "cushion" for a while. Once my severance is fully paid out I am eligible for unemployment. So it's not all doom and gloom in QCVille......

At least the upside is I'll have time to stamp again! :) See, every cloud does indeed have a silver lining! Or perhaps at least a Sakura Lined Lining! *wink*

ATC Swap

So my friend Stevie hosts an ATC swap every once in a while. I'd always wanted to participate, but was so nervous. Smaller scale, etc. Well, they're FUN...and I can't wait to see what I get in return!




ATC's are, for those of you who don't know, small "artist's trading cards". Size is 2.5" by 3.5". Mine are made with a Quickutz die (isn't he cute?), SU papers, Brilliance inks in Pearlescent Ice Blue and Moonlight white, SU's Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and a hint of Sakura Glitter pen. A bit of paper piercing on the bottom. Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's "Take A Bough" set. Snowflakes are from SU's "Flaky Friends". Black gingham ribbon by SU. Like the cricket?? *wink* A fun reminder for me of GREAT times with GREAT friends in the summer of 2007.....I'm saving my pesos for a return in August '09. I love these girls.....

If you would like to see a couple of samples (and man, I am DROOLING to get these in my hand!!), check out the ones that my friends have done!

HB makes everything with hugs and you can FEEL them!

Piris - OMG - Pi and Vintage = sheer delight!

My Sissy Lana - OMG. QUEEN of cute!



As you can see, these are some AMAZINGLY talented ladies! (I have *no* idea how I ended up with such amazing friends. I just thank my lucky stars I did!!)

Following in Beth's Footsteps

Reading my friend Beth's blog this morning......I thought this was a great idea. Beth's 40 - I'm 43, so I have to cough up 3 more things *wink*....but that's a stretch, so I'll put in as many as I can think of....

Things to be Thankful for....

1. My husband - we hit a hard hiccup several years ago, but thankfully with perseverence we made it through, stronger than ever!
2. My parents - for adopting me and making my life great!
3. My brothers - for being so supportive throughout the years
4. My sisters in law - for being my sisters that I never had!
5. My neices (Em, Liv and Nicole) and my nephews (Stephan, Claude, Thierry, Geoffrey and Aiden)
6. My friends - near and far. Especially my super special friends that I met through Splitcoaststampers - they're my rocks.
7. My house - oh, how I love my house!
8. My pets - Buddy, Rosie and Sly - and the unconditional love from them (the dogs at least)
9. My job - although I don't love it, I certainly make a decent living for what I do!
10. My "super special sister" - you know who you are! I love you best! :)
11. My health. I've had a few issues to deal with in the last year (lastly 3 broken bones in my foot - prior - a diagnosis {finally} of Meniere's Disease). But I'm glad it's resolved! It could have been worse!
12. Living in Canada - great health care (that's practically free). Freedom. Opportunity. Canada is still the land of plenty! I *heart* Canada!
13. My dad's continued strength. He almost died 3.5 years ago but thankfully he put on his "fightin' gloves" and has beaten the odds! YAY DAD!
14. The USA's new President Elect - Barack Obama. I believe this man will initiate positive change. I truly believe in his abilities to bring the US back to "harmony", despite the naysayers. (I apologize if this offends anyone, it is simply my opinion) I really truly believe in this man's ability to make change, because the US proved on November 4 that change is what they desire.
15. That no one in my immediate circle of family (other than my dad) struggles with health issues or disease.
16. That my husband's niece has been clean and sober for 5 years, without any temptation to "chase the dragon" again.
17. That my husband's neice has two perfect beautiful children, despite her battles.
18. That my husband's neice and her fiance have reunited, despite the fact it cost him his family to follow his heart and be with her and their children. You are a very strong man.....and we're very proud of you!
19. That my father in law survived a massive aneurysm (and had a second removed recently) and is on the mend.
20. That I have only lost ONE very close friend to death - and Kelly was WAY too young. I miss him all the time.....

I will never make it to 43 unless I start listing the craft supplies for which I am thankful.....LOL.....and that's a bit over the top for me!

What are you most thankful for???

I never said I was a CONSISTENT blogger - did I?

Man, I'm so bad! Work has been CRAZY busy for me, even though we're "ramping down" - just lots of stuff that I had back-burnered while I was lounging around eating bonbons.....errr....I mean, while I was laid up with a broken foot!!!

I was looking forward to a trip to Mexico in December but we've had to postpone that, my husband is being laid off a month earlier than expected and has no known date of recall yet......it will depend on the sub prime situation in the US. The foreclosures happening down there mean people are certainly not building homes! And the US is our biggest purchaser of product - both Carey and I are in the logging industry. If our friends in the US aren't buying.....then there's not much work for him, especially - he builds the logging roads! No point building them if they're not harvesting them for sale.....

ANYHOOOOO......no trip for me....but I do get a quick getaway with my friend Heather next week - she has courses in Terrace and I am going along to watch her adorable boy Alex!

A card......I hardly ever get time to stamp these days, I hope to change that over the next few weeks! So here's a little somethin......



As a side note.....I learned today that I may have offended someone by a post I made on this blog. I assure you it was NOT intentional. It was simply a comment that must have been read into just a little too deeply. Believe me....if I had something to say....I would have said it!!! Those who know me - know that about me! So, if you're reading, and I assume you know who you are....I apologize if you thought my post was some sort of slam. IT WAS NOT.

Stamps - SU, TAC (Sentiment)
Paper - SU
Accessories - Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, CindyRibbon in Velvet (YUM!), Brads from StarLitStudio

Have a great weekend - I'll TRY to be a bit more diligent in posting regularly!

Remembering 9/11

Two things today......

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!


2. Take a moment today to tell someone how much they mean to you. If nothing else, 9/11 taught this Canadian to live in the moment, and NEVER pass by an opportunity to tell someone how much they mean to you.


I will never forget that day. I was waiting for my parents to arrive via BC Ferries. My phone rang moments after 6 AM and my good friend Lisa was crying and all she could choke out was "Turn on your TV - RIGHT NOW" and hung up. I rushed over and turned it on.....and my husband and I stood (for about 2 hours, it felt like) staring at the TV, barely able to comprehend. I remember saying "is this even real?". We were watching as everything started to unravel. My parents pulled up - my husband yelled out the door "come in right now - you won't believe what's happening in NYC right now....."

We literally sat, glued to the TV for most of the day.....all in a daze.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all my American friends, near and far. I know this is a sore subject for many - such unbelievable tragedy - but I also know that it brought a lot of people closer together. It brought patriotism to an all time new high in the US, I am sure. Some of my friends lost people they knew in this tragedy.

Those who lost their lives - both civilians and those in the Fire Departments, Police Departments and all the paramedics - AND the volunteers who worked tirelessly - will always hold a special place in my heart for their dedication.

May we always remember.......

Solemn......

.....I just want to say I'm very sad. Good friends of ours were blessed with a son on Sunday - Tysen Ray - and unfortunately he was taken from them yesterday. They only had 4 days with their sweet angel. I am so sad for my friends - the happiest time of their lives, the birth of their first child, has turned into a tragedy.

My heart is going out to Jen & Ryan, their families and all of us who are lucky to have them as friends. The rest of us have to be strong and hold them up in our thoughts and prayers.

Sweet Tysen - know you will be missed greatly. Your mom waited so long for you....and your daddy was so proud of you....his firstborn child.

You are loved, now and forever. Peace, sweet boy.......

A card - yes! A CARD!

I apologize for how long it's been since I posted something stamp related. It's a battle for the camera nowadays - it's river coho fishing season so my camera seems to be permanently in my husband's fishing backpack! LOL!!




I reeeeeeeally like the Inque Boutique stamps that my Sissy (Lana) has been getting into. They're an INCREDIBLE bargain, and as long as you use that "secret weapon" stamp mat, you get excellent results every time! They have a TON of sets and more coming all the time. CUTE CUTE CUTE. This card is in the mail to a fellow caffeinator! LOL!! Except I think she may just edge me out for "amount consumed prior to 8 AM" awards! *wink*

Thanks for peeking in! I hope to have something new....soon!

Supplies: Ink Boutique Chai Latta Mini Set, Impression Obsession (Sentiment)SU Designer Prints Paper (Level 1 hostess gift from the Spring/Summer Catty), Vintage Violet and Pretty In Pink Cardstock, Regal Rose classic ink, Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot), black grosgrain ribbon, Sakura Gellyroll pens.