Off to San Antonio with my Angel friends!

I know that the holidays were just upon us, but I am now just taking my much needed and I think well deserved "holiday break." I worked over most of the holiday break while the rest of the university was closed. But it was sooo worth it! Last Thursday, we held a youth mock deployment at Eielson for 50 youth! It was fantastically fun, despite a couple small minor glitches... like the cold weather wreaking havoc on the HUMVEE - it was frozen solid! The kids were "deployed" for the day, just like their active duty parent might go through when they get deployed. They got to learn how to maneuver the explosive ordinance disposal robots, had a mock transport mission on a KC135 (refueler plane), and learned about some coping skills that can help them during re-integration when their deployed parent returns home, got their faces painted camo style... the works! We also had a time at the end of the day where the kids were able to make welcome home signs for their deployed parents - or a friend's deployed parent, etc. The pride of being a military kid was rampant! :) My favorite part of the day was when the kids were all doing PT - jumping jacks, sit-ups, running, etc. Oh! And the message that the Vice-Wing Commander gave to the kids. It was fabulous!
Anyway, so I am off to San Antonio for a retreat with The Angel Company. It is always so fun to see everyone, share ideas, chit chat, and learn about new products. Nancey left a comment on the previous post that they might not recognize me without my glasses! LOL I didn't' even think about that - and to top it off, I have lost 30 lbs since October. OK... back to the topic at hand... I do have my new camera in my carry-on with me, my laptop, and a transfer cable... so hopefully I will be able to post some photos while we are at The Angel Company winter ESCAPE. I will miss all of you angels that can't be with us in San Antonio - but I know that you will be there in spirit... along with the other spirits at the Menger... LOL
Angels - be sure to check out Paper Wings forum for the ESCAPE online! Julie G. is hosting a fabulous project along with other talented angels! :)
Well, my flight is delayed... go figure! LOL At least I am on the last leg of my travels... sitting in the Dallas airport.

NEW TAC catalog is here!!!

New catalog time!!! It feels kind of a bit like a whirlwind with two catalogs a year now, but that just means double the fun and more stamps, right?! ;) The new paper is just too gorgeous!!! I even have a card in the catalog! I had posted a picture of it back in July on my blog - here it is again. :)

There are these cute matchbook kits, new stamps, fun tools, and more!! If you just gotta have a copy of the new catalog - I am sure I can help you with that.

In the meantime, been busy getting ready for the winter retreat with The Angel Company in San Antonio next week. It is always so fun to see everyone, make new projects, chat, and all that good stuff. And the best part - warm weather! It could be 30 degrees and warm to me! I have to admit, that I see some places in the lower 48 that are almost as chilly as we are this morning at 8 below zero!

Happy Stamping!

Pictures and more!

Happy Christmas!!! DH and I have been playing "Chrismukkuh" this week! How fun! Not because one of us is Jewish and the other is Christian, just because we can... and because we are leaving tonight to visit our family ~ and why take our presents with us unopened?!?! LOL So, we have been giving each other a little something almost every day this week. I totally got spoiled, of course. :) And poor DH has to wait for the continuation of "Chrismukkuh" until we get back from Montana because a couple of his presents haven't gotten here yet. :(

Anyway... "Santa" did let me get a Cricut. The "expressions" one. I can't take it out of the box until we get back from our trip because all I'll want to do is play. So, it is sitting in front of the tree. DH did surprise me with a new camera though! Wow!!!! A Nikon D40. It is soo snazzy!!! A neighbor friend came over and gave me a brief lesson last night on how to use it. It takes the nicest photos! See!!!! DH took this one - me without glasses and a new haircut.

Also, here is a photo of the paper pieced Santa that I made. And one of the Christmas cards that I made for my Christmas card Stamp-a-stack. Next month we are going to have Birthday card stamp-a-stack, and make a perpetual calendar!

And I have been making topiary for Christmas presents. These are pretty fun ~ and easy. Great way to use up some of the millions of Prima flowers that I have!!! This one still needs some filling in ~ almost done! Good thing that I am seeing these girlfriends after Christmas!!!

The last picture is of some Christmas ornaments that I made for a little class. They are just like the ones that Basic Grey had a couple years ago with the Blitzen paper pack. Remember?! I thought that they were a lot of fun ~ but kind of frustrating. I taught 6 ladies how to make them and then 5 minutes later couldn't get mine to go together! LOL

Hope that you are getting your last holiday shopping done! We are going to finish up shopping for the kids and my nieces tomorrow when we get off the plane. Talk about last minute!!! I did get a couple things that we are taking back. I couldn't go all crazy shopping here because we are taking a cooler of halibut back with us and bringing back some antelope or something like that. I don't know... I don't eat it!

Merry Christmas!

REALLY MIA?!

Yes, I am still here... I don't have a really good excuse - well, you tell me if my excuses are enough to forgive me for not posting! LOL
We got a new computer and I have been trying to transfer files with this "supposed to be" really easy fire wire transfer. AUGH! Frustrating! It will happen though... I must be patient.
I must tell you about our new computer though. I spent an entire Saturday driving around Fairbanks computer shopping. Totally dismayed because I didn't want a new PC with Vista... yuck, yuck... and I really didn't want to pay retail price for a Mac. Hey, gotta use that "educator discount" whenever I can. So, I went home with the notion that I was going to the campus on Monday morning to order my computer at the Tech Center at UAF. I was getting excited to get a new "all in one" Mac. As I was lying in bed flipping through the channels that night, I hit QVC and they were showing their "deal of the day!" They had this fantastic package deal with Dell. Go figure! So, that is how I got my new Dell! I still want to get a new Mac, but I am going to have to wait maybe until my birthday - and maybe instead get a laptop. Even better!!!
I do have picts to post ~ I promise to get them up as soon as I can... gotta get those computers up and running!
Oh! must tell about my shopping in Kansas City. The conference was awesome (the REAL reason I was there...) It was for a program that I am working with through 4-H call Operation Military Kids. It is the great collaboration with a number of partners like the Army, American Legion, Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, etc. Anyway... just a little plug for the program... if you are a military family and are affected by military deployments ~ check out www.operationmilitarykids.org A number of states are doing a lot of wonderful things to help in supporting our families of a deployed solider!
Ok... back to shopping... I found Archivers. I actually left the store with a BOX full of goodies! Yes, a BOX! Christmas, doggie, and princess scrapping goodies - I am sure that would not surprise many that know me even a smidgen! lol
This past weekend I attended a holiday ornament exchange at the Two Street Scrappers studio in Fairbanks. I got the CUTEST Victorian style coin purse ornament. I was absolutely meant for me. :) No one even tried to steal it... good thing! LOL Saturday I attended my little friend DJ's first birthday party! We had a luau party - and even limboed. Wasn't that a site!!! Then, I want to my friend Ambers to scrapbook for a few hours. I actually didn't scrapbook, but made a Christmas picture. I will have to post more later on that... Freddie was gone all weekend to Anchorage helping a friend gut a condo. Now... how is it that DH will go 300+ miles to help a buddy to some serious manual labor, but I can't get him to finish putting "his" room together?!?! I am proud of him though ~ that does take a good friend to travel that far to do some crazy kind of work!
Dilemma... I have been really shopping around and reading up to see if I really would use a Cricket. Now that the larger size ones are on the shelves, I think that I might! Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Especially if you know of any smoken' deals! LOL ~ Thanks! ~
Hope that your holidays are merry!!!

Where Has She Gone?!

I am still here!!! The holidays always seem to bring more fun and more activities!!!
We are still unpacking - but almost there!!! And even put out a few Christmas lights in our little front yard area. I also had my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack of cards over the weekend - at three different times and enjoyed having 25 ladies come over to make Christmas cards. Lots of work - but lots of fun!!! I had great held to - thanks to my newest "Angel," Kera!!! She helped me cut paper with "Big Bertha" (the heavy duty paper cutter) and put card kits together! Thanks, Kera!!!
I'll hopefully be able to post some picts later today...
Next week I get to travel for work again - this time to Kansas City. Always love going to KC because Archivers is not far away!!!!

New Eyeballs!!!

First - guess what I forgot to do!!! Take pictures of my booth at the Holiday Marketplace!!! AUGH!!! It was very cute though and I did get lots of compliments on it! The weekend was very long - but fun and I met a lot of new people and got lots of great new contacts!!! I have 25 individuals signed up for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack, which rocks!!! Woo-hoo!!! And, I had fabulous help from my dear friends ~ Alysia, Anne Marie, Kara, Kera, and Macon! They kept me company and were great sales girls!
Onto the title of the post!!! I am in Anchorage for laser eye surgery!!! I had it today. So far so good. I couldn't get Lasik because my corneas were on the limit for being to thin. I appreciate the Dr. being honest and taking the safe route. So, I had PRK instead. I am doing really well and can see better than before already. It is amazing. The process was pretty wicked cool. Tomorrow morning I have my post-op appointment and then home... no more glasses! YEAH!! It will be different though because I have had corrective lenses since I was in 5th grade.
Let's see... no stamping or scrapping things to share ~ hopefully after this weekend I will have something. I am getting my craft room in order though ~ after the big more~ things are finally finding a home. I am sure that you will be able to relate - I have sooo much stuff!! It is crazy!!! LOL
Have a great weekend!
Keepin' it inky,
Candi

Holiday MarketPlace Time!!!

Sorry for the huge lack of posts! In between MOVING, unpacking boxes, and trying to figure out where to put things - and where did I put things?!?! I have also been getting ready for my first huge holiday market at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks ~ coming up this weekend.
I have been working hard creating my booth space, making things to sell, and cleaning out my stamps! I'll be sure to take a picture and post it!
Wish me luck!!!
Candi