Just a minute of my time...

Learn something new everyday

Have you ever taken a class by Shimelle?  I have taken several and one of my favorite things about her classes, besides the cool ideas and great PDF files is that once you take a course you are automatically invited back each time the class is going on to take it again!

And so here I am getting ready to take the Learn something new everyday class again, and this time I think I'm more ready than I have ever been!  I decided I was going to use supplies on hand for this one and dug out a kit from work in progress and a making memories 8 X 8 album.

 I stamped and inked the tags and cut all my 8 X 8 papers out, the only thing I need is either a stamp for the date/day or number stickers and I'm ready for class to begin on September 1st

 

Work in Progress kit

Did you ever have a time when you found your mojo and everything crafty just seems to work? I've been going through one of those times these last few weeks...

Ever since I picked up my Work in Progress kit the ideas were coming to me so quickly I had to write them down because if I didn't I would get another idea and forget the last.  Well, that part may have to do with my age and memory?  As soon as I saw the stickers in the kit I began thinking mini book.  But not just one mini book, two or three different mini book ideas were coming to mind.  Here is one of the mini's

 A photo a month to cover 2009/10 school year of the kids

   







        It was one of those kits that made me remember why I love scrapbooking.  With both the kids back in school it gave me time to reflect and be thankful.

Another candy bar poem

So the other day I mentioned about my dentist having a party to celebrate 35 years in the practice. I couldn't go there empty handed.  

 So I wrote this poem...

Dr Al, or should I refer to you as OLD FAITHFUL?  Because that’s what you’ve been to me for 31 years.  And yet, how could you be celebrating 35 years in the practice unless you started when you were 12?

In those 31 years it seems I’ve had every WHATCHAMACALLIT done to my teeth that has been available.  Some teeth you had to take a BIG HUNK out of just to save them and others I bet were like digging in a GOLD MINE!  But no matter the RIESEN you always were there to fix the latest dental SHOCKERS I brought your way.  I remember a SOUR PATCH when it seemed like a SPREE that I was there every week, basically every PAYDAY I spent at the dentist office!

Then I started bringing my own children in to see you.  Your office hours were GOOD AND PLENTY and the GOOBERS couldn’t wait to get finished so they could check out the treasure chest and see what TWIX you had for them to play with. And while the kids didn’t have the WHOPPER cavities like I had, my daughter has the most beautiful smile  and my son will once he gets his braces off!

LOOK… Dr Al, you have been a LIFESAVER to our entire family, even if there were times we left looking like a LEMONHEAD we still appreciated everything you did for us.

Big smiles, hugs and kisses from the Zarlenga Family

And I heard his favorite is dark chocolate, so I added plenty of that too!

 

Right now...

I'm reading a really good book called War by Sebastian Junger that my cousin told me about.  I believe there is a movie coming out soon called Restrepo 

 

While school shopping for the kids I found these boots for myself!

   Along with several comfy sweaters! 

missing my daughter who headed back to college over a week ago...

hanging out with my son who starts school tomorrow

  working on my second mini book with my Work in progress September kit!

Finishing up a candy bar poem I wrote for my dentist who will be celebrating 35 years in the business this weekend! (pictures and poem to come)

Training for my next half marathon in less than 5 weeks!

And enjoying date nights with my hubby whenever possible!

Thinking of my brother today

Seven years ago today my brother began the battle for his life, which ultimately ended just 3 weeks later during surgery.  I can still remember the phone call from Lisa and hear the fear in her voice as she told me something is wrong with my brother and the ambulance is taking him to the hospital.

 

I was sick, instantly sick... throwing up and hyperventilating as I tried to get in touch with my husband who was away camping with Zach.

crying so hard my mother in law couldn't understand even who it was on the phone

 

I couldn't dare go to the hospital that night, I felt I would jinx him.  Yes, it was the 23rd and all I thought was that was the day Ryan died, I can't go there or Joe will die too.  

throughout the night my brother and sister called me updating me on his condition as we cried together, praying that he would be okay.

In the early morning of the 24th I finally felt safe to go to the hospital, and that is where we spent our lives for the next 3 weeks, as we went through each obstacle that was preventing him from surgery.  Those things that had to be fixed before surgery was even an option.  Fluid in his lungs, unknown brain damage, and more...

But every day that waiting room was full of family and friends, waiting for word that he had improved, and each day he did!

I remember my brother calling me crying saying he opened his eyes he opened his eyes as they started reducing the meds that caused the induced coma state he was in.  We celebrated!  We called everyone!  It was the best news we had gotten in weeks and we couldn't have been happier!

But as we know... that happiness was short lived.  Joe died during surgery 3 weeks later, but today I remember him and the battle he fought...

Forever and always my brother, my friend

 

Rock and roll hall of fame

On Mother's Day we spent the day in downtown Cleveland where we went to the Rock and Roll hall of fame and then off to an Indians game that we watched from a loge.  

Because we had so much to do in one day and didn't get to spend enough time at the Rock Hall, Joel purchased a year pass so that we could go back as much as we wanted for a year, and membership has its privileges which covered our admission and parking!

Finally this last Tuesday I took my mother in law and Zach and we headed down to the Rock Hall.

In that circle shape above the water is where we watched the movie that played music from every inductee from 1986 to present.  The 1986 inductees were; Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Little Richard

It was fun to watch as the music evolved over the years, remembering both the music that my parents played and that which was popular when I was a teen, and Zach loves a lot of my teen favorites!

   

We got to every floor in the museum and saw a few movies along with the Bruce Springsteen exhibit; From Asbury Park to the Promise Land. Although I still need to get back and watch the U2 movie, so looks like there will be another visit in the coming months!   

When friends come to town

they always want to visit Perfectly Charming, and what kind of friend would I be to deny them of this?

On Wednesday Debbie, Jeanie and Brenda came in from Michigan.  The first stop and where we met up... Perfectly Charming!  Oh I wish I had my camera to get pictures in that store... it is endless visions of inspiration.  So much so that when I came home with my purchases I ended up cleaning and rearranging two rooms!

 

The suitcase is the new addition here...

 
I loved this basket the second I saw it! 

and I don't think I will ever have too many pedestals! 

Friday fill ins

 

and...here we go! 

1. Laughter can change your attitude about almost anything.

2. not sure if are the three words that started off the last email I sent.

3. What I'm most looking forward to today is spending the day with Zach.

4. My dog always puts a smile on my face.

5. Where in the world my glasses?

6. coffee; just what I needed!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to quiet night, tomorrow my plans include hanging out with Joel's cousin and Sunday, I want to SCRAP!

You can find more friday fill ins here

I posted all about the money tree that my sister gave to Zach for his 16th and then I embellished for Ben's birthday over at Work in Progress.

Archivers

My sister and I took the marvelous mini card class at Archivers and I really enjoyed it!  We learned a lot of little tips and made some adorable cards!

Here are a few of my favorites:

   

Cupcakes

are all the rage lately and I totally can see and taste why!

 

last week we stopped in Main Street cupcakes in Hudson and had to try them for ourselves!  We took 7 of these babies with us!

   

Here were our flavor choices:

• Chocolate Chocolate Chip - Dark Chocolate cake filled with chocolate chips covered in chocolate buttercream frosting and topped with more chocolate chips - okay so we had to get 3 of these!
  
• Red Velvet - Southern style red velvet cake smothered in white buttercream frosting
  
• Toffee and Coffee - Dark chocolate cake mixed with crushed English Toffee bits topped with a coffee buttercream
  
• Birthday Cupcake - Citrus infused white cake with rainbow sprinkles baked in topped with vanilla buttercream frosting and rainbow non perils
  

They make 12 different flavors each day and when they sell out, they close!  Nice huh!  Some days they are closed by 1pm, some days even earlier!

And as if that sweetness wasn't enough for one day, after we ran a few more errands we then headed over to Cheesecake factory again!  Chelsea got me hooked on Endamame and they have it as an appetizer! YUM!

 

That evening we moved Chelsea back to school, yeah a subject I've been trying to avoid happening, but still happened all the same... that will be another blog post on another day