We now return to our reguarly scheduled programming

Hi folks!
Well, it's been pretty quiet around here for a few reasons 1) main computer had a corrupt registry and I had to wait for the manufacturer to send me the backup disks so I could reformat it. Big thanks to C (Ethan's dad) for walking me through the process! and 2) a very busy work week with quite a bit of travel and overnight trips.

With the home/main computer up and running,...almost; I'm still one-by-one reloading the printer, and specific programs I had on there I should be back to regular posting next week.

I had planned to fool you and resume posting this past Thursday, but it's Canadian Thanksgiving and as I was on the train about to start up the laptop to write my post...I realized my jump drive with all my project pictures was safely sitting on my desk in London.

I'm at my parents' house now; yesterday my sister and I made the typically 4 hour drive up...and it became a 7 hour drive. We lamented over the odometer which told us in a measly 4 hours we had traveled an even more measly 160 km. That's an average of 40 km/hr. A permanent school zone.

A combination of sheer volume of traffic, and an unsightly accident (it appeared no one was seriously hurt, but my theory is a trailer with 2 kayaks and 2 canoes unhooked from the RV that was towing it and rolled into a Mazda 3, which was then subsequently rear ended. Canoes and kayaks all over a 4 lane highway) created the delays.

Onto the update: I've got some projects to share with you next week when I get back to London and my supplies for my Christmas cards have arrived, so I'll be designing this weekend, and starting production next weekend!

To my Canadian bloggers- Happy Thanksgiving!
To all my bloggers Happy Saturday!

ps- Good luck in your first race tomorrow Mau!

Ciao for now,

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Back from L.A.!

Hello hello! I’m back from sunny (and smoky) California; actually, like my post on Friday mentioned, I got back early Friday morning.  I’ve been busy doing the things that follow a vacation return- unpacking, groceries, laundry and adjusting back to the EST zone.

I had a great time in Los Angeles, saw one of my friends from University, saw the taping of the TV Sitcom “Gary Unmarried” with Jay Mohr and Paula Marshall- we saw the 3rd episode of the new season, so it won’t be on for a few weeks.  I’ll let you know when it’s on; it’s a really interesting process, but it took 4 hours to tape!

We rented a car and drove to Santa Monica and Venice Beach.  What a sight! Muscle Beach was hilarious!  We toured the Warner Bros. Studio, and I think that was my favourite part.  I’ll be sharing pictures and telling you why I loved it so much over the next little while.

And we did see celebrities! I don’t have any pictures though; it’s actually harder than I thought.  You’re looking at a person going “do I know you? should I know you? are you really ‘so-and-so’?” It’s a lot of second-guessing yourself. Plus at ‘regular’ clothes, hats and sunglasses to the process.

Here’s who we did see:

• Nick Lachey- he was getting into his car in front of our restaurant where we were eating lunch
• Jane Fonda- driving her Porche on Rodeo Drive
• Jenny McCarthy- we pulled up beside her at a red light
• Doug Savant-he plays Tom Scavo on Desperate Housewives, we saw him at the Dodger’s game with his two kids
• David Lascher- he played Vinnie on Blossom, as well was being on Sabrina the Teenage Witch. We saw him shopping at The Grove

I also think I saw Christina Aguilera at the Dodgers game, but it could’ve been someone that just really resembled her.

I was looking at my pictures (I will be sharing and bringing back Foto Friday) and all my ticket stubs, parking passes and other souvenirs and realized that I should, gasp, make a scrapbook.  I haven’t scrapped in a while, and I even donated a perfectly good scrapbook album back in the spring when I renovated my office.

I’ve been envying all the modern scrapbooks and layouts I’ve seen since I started blogging about my cards and I’m just amazed, so I figured I’d try it out myself.  I bought a new album and paper yesterday, and my prints are being developed as we speak. 

I’m excited to get back to the stamping table, and have a few ideas floating around in my head, as well as my new scrapbook adventure.

AND! this week is the release of Stamp Insanity stamps over at Stamp Happens! and you sure don’t want to miss that!

There’s a lot going on this week, so get ready!

Today I’m going to Toronto to enjoy another concert- The Killers at the Molson Amphitheatre.  It’s also the Air Show today at the Canadian National Exhibition (a very big annual fair) so there will be lots to see.  Tomorrow I’ll be spending my holiday Monday at the stamping table; just the way I like it!

Here’s a picture of the Hollywood Sign, as seen from Hollywood Blvd.

Happy Sunday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Hollywood,California,Los Angeles,Stamp Insanity,Stamp Happens,A Paper Buffet

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O Canada!

Happy Canada Day!!!

Today Canada turns 142 years old!  How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful, safe country. 

Here’s a few tidbits about Canada you may not know:

Canadians:

• Eat better than the French
• Are more wealthy than the Americans
• Have more lovers than the Italians
• and Live longer than the Swedes (source: Maclean’s magazine, July 06/09 edition)

Canada ranks #1 in vacation spots and often we, as Canadians forget that and travel overseas or down south.  Let’s rediscover Canada!

Here are a few pictures to share…although I’ve never been to the East Coast, so that’s one place I’ll have to visit first!

Vancouver, British Columbia

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kittsilano Beach, Vancouver, British Columbia

 

 

 

 

 

Driving along the Malahat, north of Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

 

 

 

Banff National Park, Banff, Alberta

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lake Louise, Banff  National Park, Alberta

 

 

 

 

 

Banff from the Gondola,

Banff National Park, Alberta

 

 

 

 

Lake Penache, Northern Ontario, where we rent a cabin every year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The colours changing driving home to Northern Ontario.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset in the Toronto Harbour

 

 

 

 

And of course, me and my dog Bailey, sitting on the dock at my Aunt’s summer home on Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world!

Happy Canada Day! (and Happy Birthday to my sister…yup she gets fireworks on her birthday every year!)

Don’t forget to check out The Character Cafe for a digital freebie to help us celebrate Canada Day.  It also marks the first Work it Wednesday for The Character Cafe!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Canada,Canada Day,Vancouver,Victoria,British Columbia,Banff,Lake Louise,Alberta,Lake Penache,Ontario,Toronto,Manitoulin Island,The Character Cafe,digital stamps

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Caption Contest for Snapshot Saturday

This picture popped up on my screen saver and made me giggle,

This picture was taken at Fisherman’s Wharf during my trip to San Francisco in 2007.  The seals have been quite the attraction in the harbour and they are noisy! but so funny to watch and listen to.

I thought it’d be interesting to see what you would come up with as a caption for this picture.

Leave a comment below and let’s see what we can come up with!

Happy Saturday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: caption contest,Seals,San Fransisco,Fisherman's Wharf,Snapshot Saturday,A Paper Buffet

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Snapshot Saturday: The Sound Of Music

**If you’re looking for The Character Cafe Blog hop, please scroll down to the next post**

For the summer my “Foto Friday” feature will move to Snapshot Saturday (or maybe the occasional Snapshot Sunday) as Fridays will now be Feature Fridays for The Character Cafe where all members of the Design Team will be sharing a new project each week using the awesome Character Cafe images.

As you read this, I will be traveling on a train to Toronto to meet my sister, cousin and mom to see The Sound Of Music at The Princess of Wales Theatre.  I thought in honour of this trip, I will share some pictures of Austria from our European family trip last September when we took The Sound of Music tour.

The majority of the film took place in and around Salzburg, Austria.  The painted bull marks the start of the tour, where we hopped on our tour bus.

This palace was used as the exterior of the Von Trapp house, but is about a 30 minute drive outside of Salzburg.

The tree-lined road Maria walks up and sings the song “Confidence”.  It doesn’t lead to the house, but to another palace.

THE gazeebo!  it’s not in it’s movie location, but was moved here, near the tree lined roads to keep tourists away from the palace.  It was at one point open to the public, to walk in and out of…but they had to close it after an 82 yr old woman was recreating Liesel’s scene of jumping from one bench to another.  Can you see the big gap in between the bench on the left and the one in the front? Yes, the 82 yr old Liesel-wanna-be fell while trying to make that leap and hurt herself.  So they closed the gazeebo. 

This is the church in the town of Mondsee where the real Maria and Captain Von Trapp were married.

The Austrian Countryside:

The gardens where Maria and the children ran through in the movie, with the Salzburg Palace in the background.

 

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of the Sound of Music locations.

And now, you know it was all coming…

Feel free to sing along:

And yes, you sing along on the bus tour as well ;)

Happy Saturday!

Aufwiedersehen!

 

Technorati Tags: The Sound of Music,Salzburg,Austria,The Character Cafe Design Team,A Paper Buffet,Snapshot Saturday

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Foto Friday #18; On the vine; Valdagno, Italy

 

My great aunt’s house in Valdagno, Italy.

 

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Italy,Valdagno,grapes,pomegranate,A Paper Buffet

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Foto Friday 16: The Berlin Wall

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Friday,Foto Friday,Berlin,Berlin Wall,Germany

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Foto Friday #15- “Light and Stone”- Royal Ontario Museum

Last month I visited my sister in Toronto to attend the Seal concert.  We spent an afternoon at the Royal Ontario Museum.  It’s one of our great museums and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Our main reason for visiting the ROM was to see the “Light and Stone” exhibit, comprised of gems from the collection of Michael Scott, the first CEO of Apple.

Here are some highlights:

Rubies; my sister’s and my birthstone.

 

Can you imagine wearing the necklace on the right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favourite picture from my set.

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Royal Ontario Museum,ROM,Toronto,Jewels,Light and Stone,Gems,Gemstones

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RANT: My very own real life Seinfeld episode

Technorati Tags: car rental,rant,cars,seinfeld

I had a one hour in-town meeting today at 10 am, and an out of town meeting at 2 pm.  It’s a 3 hour drive to my second meeting, one way.  I arrived at the car rental place at 9am.

This is what happened to me today:

Except:

Add in an offer for a compact car: Not safe, I don’t care what you say.

And an offer for a minivan:

Agreed to after I negotiated a reduced price for the gas that this Beast would consume.  I sat in the car to drive away and realized:

 

The seat height is not adjustable and my feet don’t touch the pedals.  I’m 5’6”.  This should not be an issue!

Back inside I go, where I have to spend another 15 minutes telling them I’m going to walk out without renting a car; I finally conceded when they arranged for me to pick up a car at another location, after my first meeting, on my way to the second meeting.   They promised me it would take no more than 2 minutes, and I would have a full tank of gas so that I can just ‘get in and go’.

Meeting #1 completed, off to pick up the 2nd rental car and give back the Beast.

So, I just got home and I called my good friend HILL to come over and serve chill.

Happy Thursday.

Ciao for now,

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Foto Friday # 14: Modern Art at the Chateau du Versailles, Paris, France

Happy Friday!

On our last full day in Paris in September, we travelled to the Chateau du Versailles. It’s roughly a 40 minute train ride outside of Paris.  My dad was adamant that he did not want to see yet another castle.  But I knew the Chateau du Versailles is the castle of ALL castles, and decided I would go with or without my parents.  My dad decided he had nothing better to do, and didn’t want to wonder around without me and my mom, who did want to visit Versailles, so the three of us hopped on the train and away we went.

I’m going to keep this photo Friday specific to the modern art that was on display at the Chateau du Versailles while we were there, and save the overall pictures of Versailles for another edition.

How odd!! would you agree? My mom and I kept thinking it was a joke! The juxtaposition between this giant balloon animal and the grandness and beauty of the Chateau  itself and the art belonging to that era is incredible.

 

To be honest, these are the only two pictures I took; I didn’t really enjoy the exhibition, I think it took away from the beauty of the castle, and to some point, made a mockery of it.  I did think the Heart pictured above was beautiful, just not in the right place.

I’m going to take advantage of some summer weather we’re having (sunny and 22 degrees Celsius); I’ll be working on some more cards and another special project this weekend and on Sunday, my Godson Ethan will be Christened.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ciao for now,

 

PS- my Dad LOVED Versailles and can’t stop talking about it ;)

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A Seal, and the Easter Bunny go to a Wedding and say Thank you?

Bet I caught your attention with that title, eh??

Before you have me committed, I couldn’t think of another way to highlight everything that’s in this post.  And even though it’s Tuesday…there’s no TwilightTuesday.com challenge entry.  Sorry kids, life is just too busy.  The only reason that I found the strength to make what I did tonight was out of sheer necessity.

First up, a Seal Concert recap. In a word: fantastic.  He was incredible, and what a talented artist.  One song after another, taking some time to chat up the crowd and tell a few jokes.  The range of this man’s voice is awesome.  Both my sister and I realized there were so many songs we didn’t know, but were happy to hear almost the entire Soul album.

                                                                                                                                           I told you I’m a sucker for a guy with a guitar…

 

 

And you know how there’s always one memorable person in the crowd at a concert                                                                                                                                                                                                 ….well here she is!  ------>

 

There were 3 empty seats in the front row, and Seal said it made him nervous, so the British gentleman he is, he invited 3 staff members to come and sit and enjoy the show.  Unfortunately they had to decline, but this woman was quick to run up to the front and grab a seat.  She was in her own little world and for a little while, I was afraid she would either 1) Jump on stage with Seal or 2) pull him OFF the stage.  She did neither  and Seal was a great sport about it.

Sunday my sister and I did visit the ROM (the Royal Ontario Museum), but I’m saving those pictures for a Foto Friday, so you’ll have to wait for those.

I want to send a thank you card to the Subaru Sales Rep who helped me with my car (it is here and it is fantastic!); he was so helpful, not pushy at all, and even remembered what radio station I listened to on my test drive and had it programmed in my car when I came to pick it up!  I was looking through my cards and realized all my thank you cards were too feminine, so I put one together using this past weeks Taylored Expressions sketch layout.  I had to stop myself from adding ribbon and flowers all over it, that would defeat the whole point! lol

My friend L asked me to make her menu cards for her October wedding.  Here’s  my first prototype,  and I’m not sure if I’ll continue with this design.  Her colours are silver, black and white, but I feel like I need to dress this up some more…any ideas?

 

 

 

I will be printing the menu on the computer, I just hand wrote Menu to fill up the space.  Both L and her fiancee are Italian, so I thought maybe this lyric would be cute on the menu cardI made a tiny ribbon rose but again, I’m just not feeling it.

One more thing to share, now that they’ve arrived safely to their recipient.  I sent these Easter Bunny mini 4x4 cards to Lorrie Veasey as a thank you for giving me the pink elephant (check this post for the whole story).

That’s it for me folks, I likely won’t be posting until Friday,  tomorrow I’ll be on the road all day long, and Thursday I’m heading home to my parents for Easter (another 6 hour drive).

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

 

 

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