Tag...you're it!

This is a chipboard tag that I made for a gift! I love stars, and want to incorporate them into my work, but they don't always fit. Too bad because they are awesome! The 4th of July is the perfect time for using them along with red, white, and blue! The 4th of July is just so sparkly!!!!

Here are a couple more closeups...

Materials used: Stampin' Up! - July 4th Clear Mount Stamp Set, Large Star Punch, Large Tag Punch, Designer Brads (stars), Brocade Blue Cardstock, Not Quite Navy Cardstock and Classic Stampin Pad, Real Red Textured Cardstock, Confetti White Cardstock

Other Items: Thrift Store Finds - Old sheet music, Gold Twine, Red and Blue Yarn

The Mushroom Muncher

My Steed...the Mushroom Muncher. You may think I'm kidding, but I'm not. She is addicted to mushrooms.

We let her out to roam the 1 acre perimeter of the yard several times each day. She thinks she's a farm dog...we don't tell her any different. She's a lean, mean 21 pound mushroom huntin' machine. Yes, she has little dog syndrome too!

So, she roams around the yard. We live in the country and are surrounded by trees. She lets her nose lead her to the site of the buffet (seen in picture below).

She sniffs and sniffs...

















And, then she finds one...burried under the pine tags and dirt. She digs a little and it's revealed. A white mushroom! Her eyes light up (like when I see sweets), and then she settles in for the feast (see below).

















When she looks up her nose and face are covered with dirt and debris. Here she is after her buffet! Notice how proud she is of herself.

















And, off to hunt some more... (she got really frustrated that her mom was following her around the yard with the camera, so this is the view I got for the rest of the hunt)

















Ah, she's done! Time to relax...

















We get worried that she will eat too much or eat the wrong mushroom (we think that happened once). We asked the vet and she said that as long as she doesn't eat a "purple one" she's fine. Well, we can't watch everything she eats. She's a dog and she eats lots of stuff I don't really want to talk about (yuck!). The vet says that she knows what she's doing. So, we try to limit her intake as much as possible. But, it brings her such joy.

And the winner is...

 Congratulations, Jackie!  


 www.random.org selected comment number 3 as the winner and that's you!! Please email me your address and I'll get your catalog in the mail to you ASAP. 

Thanks to everyone for participating and sharing your 4th of July traditions!

Mountain Bike Monday - My Bike and I

This is my bike! It's a Salsa Moto Rapido.

I inherited this beautiful (and somewhat dirty) creation from my Dynamo. I actually just commandeered it. He did switch out some components before gifting it over to me. I LOVE my bike...well, most of the time. We do have a love/hate relationship, my bike and I. He can be really frustrating sometimes. Lately, I've really been irritated with the shifters on him. Note picture below...

Those darn things drive me insane. I had a really bad crash a while back (went over the handle bars in a creek, rode 5 miles back to the car dripping blood and holding my wrist...more about bike safety in next week's post) and busted up the plastic covering and inside dial, so at times it's pretty difficult to see exactly what gear I'm in. That doesn't matter so much now because I can tell by feel, but I have some trouble with the left shifter (which shifts gears up front/front derailleur). It is never quite right for me. I have twist shifters as you can see by the above picture. For those that don't know, there are two types of mountain bike shifters out there today, twist and trigger. Right now I'm trying to determine if the twist is really right for me. It seems like most people use the trigger shifters. When I get really hot and sweaty I tend to have a bit of a hard time shifting on the front from 1 to 2 (from the smallest innermost cog to the medium cog), especially after we've been biking for 8, 9, or 10+ miles. Dynamo says he has no problem with them, but this is where I think boy versus girl comes in. He's naturally much stronger than I with larger hands. When I'm flat out exhausted turning the grip can be super hard to do. I think I need to do some tennis ball squeezing exercise things to get my left hand in shape. Or...give the triggers a try.

I'm not quite sure I want to change from twist to trigger, so for now I'm going to keep struggling and adjusting. After discussing the issue with some guys in the bike shop over the weekend and actually getting to see the SRAM X.9 trigger shifters and how they work, I think it might be a good investment. I'll keep you updated.

Other than that, right now my other bike issue is the shifting of the tube in the front tire causing flats (remember the post about me being a bull in a china shop?). We're working on that too. All in all, my bike is super. I am pleased with it.

At the Hoo-Ha we chatted with a lady rider (Dynamo calls them chicks) and she said that the biggest mistake that women make is not buying good gear. They cheap out because they aren't sure they will stick with it and don't want to spend the money. I can tell you one thing...you get what you pay for. This I have found to be true with most things, especially bras. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about! With biking gear these things I've found to be necessary:

1. get fitted by a knowledgeable person and a reputable bike shop
2. get the right bike for the right purpose
3. good padding is a must (shorts that is)
4.  "wicking" is key
5. a bigger seat is NOT always better
6. fingerless grips with padding made especially for chicks rock
7. ergon grips are helpful
8. get a good hydration pack with well-designed pockets (don't fill them too much). In my case the women's specific Camelbak fit well. Ladies, we are shaped differently than men up top you know!
9. wear your helmet correctly

I'll talk more later about the various items I've listed in more detail, but for now you get the picture. Don't skimp out! Riding rocks! I'm not very fast or very good, but I've come a long ways in a year's time. I'm out there learning something new and it sure beats running. It's awesome to see girls riding in a traditionally male-dominated sport. So, I don't care what you do, but do one thing...get off the sofa and go do something! You'll be glad you did! Do it for you! Do it for your health! It always hurts a little during, but it's worth it in the end! Pain is temporary...no, you're not going to die! At least that's what Dynamo tells me!

Sunday Sermon - June 27

Location: Suffolk, VA
Thank you to Kristi Sutphin, Suffolk, VA, for submitting this photo.

If you have a sermon you'd like to share Email me

A thank you Saturday...

Well...the weekend is here and I'm so thankful! I thought I'd share a thank you card! Have a great weekend!

Materials Used: Stampin' Up! - Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set, So Saffron Cardstock and Classic Stampin Pad, Blender Pen, Floral DSP, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin Pad, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Paper Piercing Tool

Close To My Heart - Thank you Stamp Set, Edge Distressor

Another great week at the market!

Here are some pics from last week at the Petersburg Farmers' Market!

Idea Book Giveaway!!

Here it is!!! Would you like to win your very own copy of Stampin' Up!'s upcoming Idea Book and Catalog? Well, here's your chance! To win, simply leave me a comment on this post about your 4th of July traditions or what Independence Day means to you. If you don't have a tradition, no big deal...just tell me you'd like to win! Leave your comments by midnight on June 27th. I'll randomly choose a winner and announce on Monday, June 28th!! I'll mail out the catalog to the winner ASAP since ordering starts on July 1st!!!!

This Idea Book and Catalog retails for $9.95 (plus tax and shipping).

A sneak peak...

I was so excited to receive my copy of the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog. I must say...it's fabulous!!! I can't wait for July 1st to arrive! Here are two cards I made using the new Hostess set, Because I Care. And, I LOVE the new Garden Gala Designer Series Paper! It's gorgeous! What do you think of the new Early Espresso Color? I think I might like it better than Chocolate Chip!

Enjoy!


Check back tomorrow for this week's giveaway!!!

My Dad...

We celebrated Father's Day last Saturday by going to dinner together! I love my Daddy with all my heart! I'm like him in a lot of ways, but do wish I had more of his traits. He's pretty relaxed and doesn't get fired up about much. Me...I get fired up about everything (humm...I guess I get that from mom!). Dad loves me no matter what...tall, short, fat, skinny (I wish!), smelly, clean, hair done or not!

They say you marry someone like your dad. Well, they don't lie! Dynamo is the perfect combination of my dad and his dad, Mr. C, (who is an awesome dad and husband too, might I add!) Dad is a great dad and has always set a great example of what a dad and husband should be. I love my dad so much...not just because he takes our trash to the dump and lets our dog (boy, he sure does love that dog) out everyday.

Dad has always worked so hard to give Mom and I everything he had. He worked 364 days a year from sunrise to whenever and more (for 30 plus years). No matter how tired he was he always had time to play catch with me. He only missed one game my entire softball career (and that was just a scrimmage). He was at everything...never missed a moment, celebration, or accomplishment. He has been my number one fan all my life.

There's a special bond that daddys share with their daughters. I can't explain it. I'm just so grateful for each day I have with my Dad. I'm so blessed to have a Dad because "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad." Thanks for being a great daddy! You're my hero!

Mojo for the week...

Did you submit your Mojo 144 design?

Here's mine...



Materials Used: Stampin' Up! - God's Blessings Stamp Set, Dusty Durango Cardstock, Elegant Eggplant Cardstock and Classic Stampin Pad, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Designer Series Paper, Pretties Kit, Brads

I love blue glass...

I bought these old bottles at the thrift store a short while ago. I LOVE old glass...especially colored glass. These are old Phillips Milk of Magnesia bottles. What a find!!!! I had 4 of them and they were just sitting in my window, but they needed something! The glass is just so beautiful when the light shines through! How can you not love the old colored glass? I jazzed them up a bit! I had some lavender that I had just dried, so I put that in the bottles and got to work on some tags using a mix of old goodies and new goodies! Enjoy!

Mountain Bike Monday...Fun at the Hoo-Ha!

Well, yesterday was an exciting, fun-filled race day for Dynamo and our friend, Jim. They raced in the Hoo-Ha at Massanutten Resort in Keezletown, VA. Jim's wife, Melissa, and I were the pit crew for the race! Being the pit crew usually means not seeing much but the start and finish, but this race we got to see a little more than usual.

What is the Hoo-Ha? A mountain bike race that's rocky and hilly with grueling climbs! There are a few different categories/classes in which to enter. Dynamo and Jim raced in the Category 2 race (12 mile loop) that started at 11:30 a.m. It was super hot, but the guys had a great time! Here are some photos from the race! Enjoy!

Unpacking Jim's and Melissa's new Element...

Getting the bike tagged...

Dynamo fueling up...
Jim getting ready...

Off to the start...

And they're off...

Dynamo at the finish...

Jim at the finish...


The pit crew...