Free Friday

I'm treating today as a "Free" day. School lets out an hour early, no violin, no appointments, no nuthin'! Hurray!! I need a day like this.

So, Dylan has been having these marathon rehearsals right after school - 3.5 hours of violin. Last week the headmaster sent an email to all of his teachers letting them know about the concert and that he is exempt from his homework this week - but will make it up over the weekend. One teacher came up to me and said, "What's going on with Dylan? He never misses homework, I'm concerned". Um, email....remember???? Actually, she was wonderful, when I mentioned the concert she apologized and asked how it was going. So I decided to ask D about his other teachers. They all gave him zeros for no homework. I'll speak to the headmaster today and I'm sure it will get cleared up. Why didn't Dylan tell me? You got me . Boys. (please add exasperated sigh. thank you.)

I. LOVE. WORLDWIN. PAPERS!!!!!!!!!
I received another 20 pounds of cardstock and crafty board yesterday!!!! They sure take good care of their design team!!!!
Oooh, and I found out that one of my projects for CHA will be featured at the WORLDWIN reception and offered as a classroom project for scrapbook stores!!! This rocks!!!!!

Hope you all have a FREE FRIDAY!!!

Tooting My Own Horn

Good Morning! I have some exciting news, two of my WORLDWIN PAPER projects will be on display at CHA. (for you non-scrapbooking folks, that's the Craft and Hobby Association's big convention in Anaheim at the end of Jan.)
I love working with WORLDWIN. Not only is their paper terrific, the support the design team is getting is wonderful. It just makes me want to make stuff all the time - which is good, lol.

Dylan had his first rehearsal for the All County Concert. There are about 100 kids in the orchestra. I thought they sounded amazing. Dylan hated it. He's playing second violin and was seated next to the first violins and said he couldn't even hear himself play. During the break he said he wanted to go home, that he wanted to quit. I felt so bad for him. I made an executive decision and moved his seat to the back and seated him with a girl he knows from our violin group. Now, before you start thinking I'm one of THOSE mothers, let me explain that this was a very laid back rehearsal and their seats are not yet assigned. I'll speak to one of the conductors today and explain the situation. I'm sure they'll let him sit there. Anyway, on the way home, Dylan said he felt much better and would go back today. It's a very long day. We left school at 3, went straight to rehearsal and got home after 8. Same thing today.

On a very positive note - I did not fall down yesterday.

That's it - I'm done!

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I posted - RIGHT HERE - that I love my Dansko clogs. Well, I've had enough. Since Christmas I've FALLEN OFF OF THEM THREE TIMES, and not just a little, "whoops, I stumbled". I mean FALLEN, like kissing the ground fallen. Yesterday was the last straw, right in front of the second grade classrooms, lol. Ok, I can laugh about it but it HURT! And my knee was bleeding!! I am just too klutzy to wear these and I'm afraid I'll break my ankle the next time. So both pairs will be listed on ebay. I really liked them, when they weren't trying to kill me.

Made amazing pork chops last night. After the osso bucco incident I think the family was a little gun shy, but these turned out the best I've ever made them.
Recipe for Jean's Pork Chops
trip fat from chops
place in cold deep frying pan
generous slice of onion on each chop
pour can of diced tomatoes over all
cover, bring to boil
reduce heat and simmer till meat is falling off bone
remove chops
add Worcestershire sauce to taste
reduce liquid
put chops back in to warm
EAT.

I had a little energy left around 9pm and made this, it's for an assignment:

Dylan and I have a marathon day today. We head right to rehearsal after school, until 7:30pm. I don't know why I'm complaining, he's the one rehearsing, lol. He's excited!
Hi Jodi!

Winter is back...

Winter is back, at least for the next two days. I was actually cold last night.We've had above average temps for the last 30 days. Come on now...I need to wear my sweaters!

Dylan was back to his old self last night, yes, he's going to school today. I did have a very productive day yesterday. Not only did I clean out my closet, but I made this,






This is a fun little journal that you fill out when you get back from your trip. I love the cardstock. It's WORLDWIN - great paper! I have made the switch from Bazzill to WORLDWIN. The pp is from Frances Meyer. They now have kits with this terrific thick pattern paper, really nice to work with. The mojo is flowing and I can't wait to get home tonight to create something else!

Fasten Your Seatbelt, It's Going To Be A Bumpy Week

Well, it's a good thing we're home today, there is a leak in my closet. I'm taking everything out, blah.
I also did this. (the color is kind of weird)

update - *Well, we're off to a great start....Dylan is home sick today,lol.
We have a busy week coming up. Dylan was chosen to play in the orchestra of the All County Concert on Sunday. This is a biggie. I don't know how many students are involved but it's at least one from each school in Nassau County. They have 3 marathon rehearsals this week from 4pm to 7:30 pm. Since one interferes with his regular violin lesson, we rescheduled it for today at 5:30. Now, try to fit in History extra help - which he doesn't think he needs but I talked him into going to - and homework and it will be a fun week. Actually, the headmaster let the teachers know that 3 of our students are performing and that they should get a "break" on homework this week due to the rehearsal schedule. I'll be going to the rehearsals....can anyone recommend a good book for me to read while I'm there? Seriously - this is prime reading time!

Osso Bucco

I'm making osso bucco today. Want to know why? Someone sent us a box of veal for Christmas. Not veal cuttlets or chops. Veal shanks. What the hell am I supposed to do with four giant veal shanks??? Make osso bucco of course. I've never had it, don't even know what it's supposed to look like, but I can follow a recipe. We'll see what happens. Everything is in the pot and has to simmer for a few hours. I'll let you know what happens.
*update; the osso bucco turned out fine but we decided we don't like veal shanks - too fatty, blech.

Today is laundry day and I tried to get the lights off the tree but I can't reach the top, so I have strands hanging all over the place, waiting for Paul, lol.

I'm also watching Stephen King's The Stand. It was a terrific book and I've seen parts of the movie, so it's on in the background while I run around and hopefully soon, I'll settle down to scrap.

Lazy Saturday

I am having a very lazy day - and I'm allowed ok?
We're taking our tree down this weekend. I still have presents underneath it and LOTS of needles. Ugh.
I ended up taking a little nap this afternoon. I've gotten pretty good at napping, Actually, I've always been good at napping. It's the waking up I wasn't very good at.

Look at what my boys gave me this morning. I love it!

T.G.I.F.

Yes, it was a short week, but I am GLAD it's Friday. It's difficult getting back into the swing of things. I'm tired. We had something to do every day after school this week - that equals a loooong day.

Ok, I'm finished complaining.

Sheila - my step mother who is the BEST - stopped by after work yesterday. We haven't seen her since before Christmas. We had a cup of tea and were serenaded by my son on the violin. Dylan was so cute, he pulled out all the stops for Sheila. He showed her each and every Christmas present he got, showed her how he could do a few pull-ups, ran his Lego train for her. I must admit, I was excited to show her our new bedroom.
We love her.

Field Trip

We took the 4th graders on a field trip to the Nassau County Museum of Art. I've lived not more than 5 miles from this place my entire life and I'd never been.(and being the good New Yorker that I am, I've never been to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island either, but that's for another time) It was wonderful. It's a Frick mansion, beautiful house, there are gardens and amazing sculptures all over the grounds. We were there for two exhibits; Picasso and Chuck Close. I saw this

Olga - Picasso
.....and this

Little Girl with Doll
and this was my favorite

Lucas by Chuck Close
The kids were amazing. They brought their sketch books, made wonderful sketches, asked great questions and they were so well behaved and polite. Buckley is a special place. I'm glad we're there.

Curse you, Danskos!

Danskos, oh Danskos, why have you forsaken me??
If you've been reading my blog - why of course you have, I'm fascinating (stop rolling your eyes) you'll know that I am in love with my new Dansko shoes. I have 2 pair. Well, I fell of the damn things yesterday!
I FELL OFF MY SHOES!
It was beautiful, I was hurrying to get ready for school, rounded the corner to my bedroom and the next thing you know, I'm tumbling to the ground. I just lay there on the carpet while the East German judge gave me a 4.5 for "grace". OW - it freakin' hurt! I've been tumbling a lot lately. July 14th, I fell at camp and broke my elbow. I wish I could tell you I was hanging upside down from the zip line when it happened, but alas, I was just walking. I fell about a month ago, at school. I was walking the kids to the bus, passing windows looking at my reflection thinking, "hey, I look gooood", then all of a sudden I'm not in the window anymore, I'm on the ground. It was all that first grader could do not to laugh at me. Of course being the drama queen that I am, I'm thinking, "Oh my God, I have some disease that affects my balance, (start the violins please)...." Well, I think I figured it out yesterday.
I'm a klutz.
Actually, I discovered that I tend to walk on the outside of my left foot. It's always the left ankle that gets twisted. I have to concentrate on walking, like I don't have enough to think about already!

Oh, and I have a migraine. I searched the house for something to take to help me. I found a little travel packet of Excedrin Migraine in the medicine cabinet. The expiration date was 2/01. Wish me luck. (it worked!!!! 20 minutes later I was fine!!!!)

National Day of Mourning

President Ford
I think I was in 4th grade when he became president. I remember when Carter won the next election, all the kids in my class were upset. We liked President Ford, why, I'm not sure. I guess because he was the President and some "unknown" guy was taking his job.

Welcome 2007

A quick little card I whipped up, and yes - all WORLDWIN. Love their paper! That is my sister-in-law Courtney - who rocks - and her twins, Holden and Grace. (they rock too)

I feel it is my duty to spread the word about these amazing candles.

Bluewick Soy Candles. The Blackberry scent in the Groove line is the best. $30 and totally worth it.

I've been playing with my WORLDWIN PAPERS and made these two cards. Paul had tears in his eyes with the Father's Day card. I should have saved it for June, darn.
Anyway, if you used to hate printing on vellum RUN to get some Digital Inkjet Vellum from WORLDWIN. It dries in seconds. I love working with it.



Happy New Year to one and all!
2006 was good to me.
New fab job.
New fab boss.
Finding a place where I belong, ahhhhh.
Discovering Ben Folds 5
Dansko clogs
MY CHAIR
new bedroom
loving my family

We had a wonderful New Year's Eve, we watched Apollo 13 and ate lobster and had a lazy evening. Dylan almost didn't make it to 12:00.

I usually don't make resolutions, but this year I have one. Drum roll please..............................................................................
I am going to scrap more.
There I said it.
I don't care how tired I am after work, I shall scrap.
There, I said it, it's out there. Wish me luck!!!!!!

*Michele, where is your blog???