Halloween Update

Last week I gave you a hint...

Well, here was my Mad Hatter costume...

I wanted to be the current Mad Hatter, not the old guy from the old version of Alice in Wonderland. Johnny Depp was awesome in the new version!! If you haven't seen it be sure to check it out! Do you think I look like Depp as the Hatter?

And, here I was at the costume contest at work with my co-workers. They were dressed as "Gang Green"! Get it?!??

And, another pic of us with the "Chilean miner" and "Madonna"...

Each year the competition gets tougher! Last year's home-made clown costume just wasn't going to cut it! So, Dynamo was so sweet and volunteered to make me a perfect hat to go with my costume. He even helped me dye my pants!! I think my hat is the best Mad Hatter hat ever!! Thank you, Dynamo!! I love you!

And, the best part was that I finally won!!
Here was my prize!!

I really enjoy Halloween and dressing up! We get very few, if any, trick-or-treaters at our house so I really enjoy the chance to dress up for work! Each year more and more people dress up at work. It's fun to see people letting loose and having a good time!!

Hope your Halloween was fantastic!! Ours was!

Sunday Sermon - October 31

We saw this shirt on a scarecrow at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, Georgia. It was so great to see this expression of faith in a public place. What a great shirt!!

little hint

Any guesses?

Treats, treats, and more treats

Oh, yummy! If you want a quick and fast treat to take to your co-workers the white chocolate dipped pretzels are the thing. Add a pretty tag using Stampin' Up!'s Batty For You stamp set, scallop circle punch, and 1 and 3/8" circle punch. Finish it off with raffia for the perfect presentation!

Here are the treat bags I made using a pattern from a Better Homes and Gardens Quick Quilts Magazine I picked up!! They are super cute and easy to make. The best part is you can use fat quarters to make them.

Today is the Halloween Costume contest at work so I'll post my costume pics in a day or so! Dynamo and I have been working diligently on my costume! I so love Halloween!!!! Happy Friday!

Be a star!

What do you give someone who has everything?

Answer: A handmade star!

I was struggling with what to give someone recently for her birthday. A lightbulb went off and I thought about giving her a birthday wand! Who doesn't like to feel like a star on her birthday?!?!

Here's a closeup of the tag...

I made the star using a cereal box, vintage sheet music, mod podge, and glitter! The ribbons and sparkly stars were from my box of random stuff. I think it turned out nicely. She really loved it!!

And, of course I had the perfect card to go with it!

I love Alice in Wonderland and these stamps from TJ Designs! I also used elegant eggplant and pink piroutte cardstock and ink along with Artistic Etchings Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!

2nd Leg

After a wonderful five days at the Chieppas, we packed the 4Runner and ventured off to visit Dynamo's brother, Craig, and sister-in-law, Amy, in Marietta, Georgia. Our good-byes to the Chieppas were very hard...as they ALWAYS are! I cried like a baby. I so hate to leave Dynamo's parents. It was so hard to pull out of the driveway and see them in the rearview mirror waving and then walking hand in hand into the house as we drove off into the distance. Sometimes I think it's easier to leave via plane.

Mr. and Mrs. C were so gracious and welcoming to us and my parents. They are so very generous and loving. I hate that we don't see them more! They are wonderful people who raised a wonderful son in Dynamo.

So, after a while I stopped crying and got myself together for our 8 hour trip to our next destination. Amy and Craig would be waiting for us!! We were looking forward to our stop-over in Marietta for two nights. Marietta is home to the world famous BIG CHICKEN. Did you know that? Here it is...

Read about the BIG CHICKEN here. No lie...the thing is huge! The beak and eyes move constantly!

Amy and Craig were waiting for us when we arrived! Here's a pic of the crew...

We didn't realize that Marietta/Atlanta area was so mountainous. It was really pretty, but LOTS of traffic!

On Friday we ventured off to Stone Mountain to the Country Living Fair. It was a nice time strolling through the trees looking at the beautiful antiques, vintage goodies, and handmade items. After the Fair we checked out Stone Mountain. Yes, it really is the largest exposed stone. Here's a pic...

You can't really tell in this pic, but there is a carving on the stone in the background. All of the construction behind us was them getting ready for a snow mountain for tubing, etc. They were making snow and will make snow until March 7, 2011. I couldn't believe more wasn't melting. After all, it was pretty warm that day.

Here's a pic of Mom and Dad...

And, of us with this really cool giant pumpkin...

After the visit to the Mountain we did some shopping in the Square at Marietta. Here we are goofing off. Notice that Craigie Baby was not there! We were playing while he was off working!

Amy cooked us a most delicious dinner of pot roast, potatoes, carrots, and salad. It was sooooo good!!!!

On our last day we ventured to the Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest. Dynamo and I had been before, but wanted Mom and Dad to experience it! It's so awesome. You really should go if you ever are in Atlanta and get a chance!

We also visited Olympic Park, which was right across the road from the Aquarium. It was beautiful, with lots of sculptures and water features. Remember the 1996 Olympics? Well, Dynamo just had to check out the water feature. I did too, but I got a little wet. I didn't quite time it right.

But, before we left for the Aquarium we ate dinner at the Marietta Diner and said good-bye to Craigie Baby!

Here's a pic of the brothers together...

I think they are related...don't you?

It was fantastic to see Amy and Craig. We don't see them often, but sure do enjoy seeing them when we are able. Thanks for a great visit!

Last week

We went on a week-long trip from Virginia to Florida and back. My mom, dad, Dynamo, the Steed, and I ventured by Toyota 4 Runner to visit Mr. and Mrs. C (Dynamo's parents) in Bradenton, Florida! It was a fun-filled trip that included lots of adventures! I bet you didn't even know we were gone did ya?

On our way down we stopped for a brief time in Jacksonville, Florida, to visit with Dynamo's niece, Stephanie! Dynamo hadn't seen Stephanie in about 10 years or more and I had never met her! She just turned 21! Isn't she beautiful?!?!!

I was so excited to finally meet my niece! Dynamo hadn't seen her since she was about 10 years old. Wow! They do grow up! She is a wonderful and beautiful young lady and I'm so glad to finally have met her!

After our short dinner, we headed onward across the state to the Chieppas. We made it to their house in one very long day! We wanted to be sure to get the most of our time. Why waste it in a hotel! We had lots to do once we got to Bradenton, so we decided to keep driving.

Here's a photo of my parents and Dynamo's parents together on our first day together before we headed to Sarasota to the Farmers' Market/Craft Festival.

It might seem odd to you that my parents and Dynamo's parents are friends, but I think it's pretty cool! Our parents hadn't seen one another in a couple of years, so there was a lot to catch up on! It was really funny because our parents referred to us as "the kids" all week long. It just shows that no matter how old you are you're still your parents' babies!

Our week was so full! We went to a street festival on Anna Maria Island and saw this woman with her pet iguana (sp?) named M.G. She told us that M.G. stood for Mini Godzilla. I couldn't believe she was strolling through the festival with this thing on her head. M.G. was a beautiful thing! I even got to pet her. Notice the man in the background with a confused look on his face!

We also saw this crazy clown in the street. What a costume? He appeared to be riding an elephant! Cool idea!

Of course we did lots of eating...after all...we were on vacation! Here we are at a local restaurant called TooJay's! Yummy brunch!!

Here are the Chieppas on one side of the booth...

Think they look like family?

And, here are the Morrises (I'm a Chieppa now)...

I guess one could say that we look alike too right?

During the week we did lots of shopping and shell hunting. We hunted and hunted and hunted for perfect shells! One could say we were obsessed!

Dynamo and I even got goggles for our last day there, but the water was really choppy and the wind was chilly, so all I found was a mouth full of saltwater! But...I tried!

All in all it was a great week! We had a wonderful time! So did Lexi!

She just loved to look outside and see the Florida weather and the ducks on the pond. She was licking her chops! Mr. and Mrs. C's dog, Tasha, was worn out from all of the playtime she got. Their cat, Kali, was so glad Lexi went home and left her alone...finally. I'm sure Mr. C is really glad to only have one dog to walk now!

Speaking of Mr. C...here we are together...

Oh, and here is a pic of the very famous sculpture/statue in Sarasota. It's quite grand! Read about it here.

More on our second leg of the trip tomorrow. But, I'll leave you with this photo of Dynamo, my love, and I at the beach! Ah....Florida....