Day One: Tampa to Philly to Madrid to Barcelona...

Despite the long plane rides, we had short stops in between and arrived in Barcelona surprisingly refreshed. I am an Ambien girl due to my sleep problems...all age related I am sure so took one at take off in Philly and slept for six hours straight.
Here is the aerial view of Barcelona as we flew in.




Jo had booked us at a darling 'boutique' hotel right on La Rambla in the center of town. This is a boulevard that runs between two streets through most of Barcelona and this is the view from our balcony on to the boulevard which is lined with small outdoor dining venues.

E and I walked around while we waited for Bill and Jo to get up from their nap. And then we all shared a glass of wine, toasting to the days ahead. We ate at one of these little places too for dinner after walking down to the market...I think E was going through grocery shopping with drawl. It had been 3 days since he had last shopped you know...lol. Poor guy, he was like a kid in a candy store without a penny to his name. He could look at all the great meats, cheeses and veggies but could not buy a single item...none of these were allowed on the ship!





We all retired fairly early so we would be rested for Day Two of our adventure. We had 3/4 of a day yet to explore Barcelona with Bill and Jo as our guides and then on to the cruise boat. I love love love Barcelona and all the windy streets in the Gothic Quarter and made my first purchase of the trip at a tiny dress shop there.

More tomorrow and, while the trip was simply amazing, it is good to be home! I will pick five only of my favorite pics of each place we visited so as not to turn this into a boring slide show by a dottie auntie if you know what I mean.

One more day and we are heading home

We have had the best time on our cruise. Only one day of rain and that hardly slowed us down at all. Tomorrow we dock and spend a day with Jo and Bill in Barcelona and head for home the next day. Have been missing our family and friends and I sure am in need of some Nana smooching on the Twins. See you all soon and will post a few pics here and there of our favorite places of our trip!

Happy Labor Day weekend

Poor little Goofy, he knows something is up. We've had the suitcases out for a week to acclimate the cats to our leave taking. Jack has gotten very needy and Goof keeps plopping himself down on the suitcases with his mournful "don't leave me" look. Until I started filling it, this tote was his favorite place to nap.



I made time today to head up to Posh Scraps. I wanted to say goodbye to my friend, Jackie L, and I wanted to wish Laura best of luck with her awesome mini album class with the wonderful new Graphic 45 papers. He hubby, Bobby, was there to help her and it was good to see him again too! They are both the sweetest people!
I am excited also because Laura and I are going to be collaborating on a class for November at Posh that will incorporate Lumieres and Glimmer Mist.

and I've included a picture here of the owner, Michele, of Posh and Laura.



And it was a red letter day as the Fed Ex guy dropped off my gifts from Webster's Pages: if you have not seen the the new netting by Websters', make sure your lss orders it. Polka dots and designs and glitter and glam. Wish I had time to do a layout now before we go. Oh, and the ribbons are so pretty! Thank you Websters!

So we are off tomorrow. Our house sitter came by just a bit ago for an update and he is ready to move in. I got a lovely phone call from my dear friend, Clare, in New Zealand. The next big event is her visit here in January and Janet and I have been conspiring to come up with some fun things for Clare's visit.

If I get a chance, and the cost is not too much, I will blog now and then during our wild adventure to the Med. Meanwhile, have a great time!

I am grateful for...

The wonderful women in Book Club. Normally we don't have a meeting this time of the year but Gloria, before her fall and injury and now recuperation,suggested we all meet for a Gratitude Dinner this month. While our group was small and we missed those who were in recovery from falls and other injuries and those who were traveling, we still found so much to be grateful for.

We met at Bon Appetite in Dunedin, an elegant restaurant right on the water and the sunset was spectacular as was the dinner. I had the three course shrimp special with fresh veggies and rice. The salad was excellent and the raspberry mousse such a wonderful finish to the meal. Thank so much dear Connie, for driving Miss Daisy!






Errands to run today...library to return books, band to cash a check, and hoping to meet up with Becky to return her craft mats. Tomorrow we pack and the rest of today is to be spent in last minute cleaning jobs so we leave the house clean and shiny for our house sitter.

Even though my internet was out this morning, we seem to have it working again. It looks like the router may be going out on us but we'll deal with that when we get home from our travels.

The weather here has been lovely. The humidity has been way down but listening to the weather that may change. I dodged into TJ Maxx last night to pick up a black shawl for the plane trip and any other cool evenings we might have. It is pretty yet practical. I love TJMaxx.

Off and running...TGIF to everyone!

Happy Birthday to Suzie...

When we first moved here over three years ago, it was Suzie who reached out to us and enfolded us in her vast web of friends. and today is our Suzie's birthday...so here is to you darlin'! and many many more!

Tues night was easy babysitting. Both of the boys either slept or played so our job was easy! and on Wed., we went over to help Kristen watch the boys (well, me) while E finished the paint job he started on Tues evening. They are ready to grout and then the bathroom will be done.

Today has been another crazy day here in Paradise, I had my happy haircut for the cruise today...can I just say how much I love my stylist, AnneMarie? What a wonder. (oh, and Clare, Michelle says when should she set up your apt. in Jan.?). Then I had a couple of errands to run, it was up to Snookers for lunch and to take Suzie her cards and gifts and then home to get ready for Gratitude Dinner with Book Club at Bon Appetite in Dunedin. This is the month we don't read a book and Gloria suggested we all meet and celebrate the many things this past year for which we are grateful...lovely idea! Thanks Glo!

So, here are the sleeping baby pics from yesterday...the boys are 3 mo. today! Happy B'day Grands!




and look what came in the post today...my prize from Hellmar (lots of Bella Blvd, papers and some great new glues to try). Thank you Kellmar!


Speaking of glue, I was covered it it this morning putting the final touches on the Maya Road vintage banner (on my altered blog) that I did for Posh Scraps. Taking it up to the store on Sat. when I pick up my kit for Laura de la Rosa's class!

Twas the Last Day of August in 2010

And I started the day with my Weight Watchers check in. Down half a lb. which puts me back on track. I lost some ground last month with our two weeks at the beach, the visit with Pam, the trip to Chicago for CHA and then to St. Louis for my dad's funeral but looks like being back on the WW plan is paying off.

Weighing in with us yesterday in front of the church in Holiday where the meetings are held were two sand cranes. The one had to stand almost four feet tall and they were not afraid of humans at all. We all stood outside watching them for quite a while and I was able to get a couple of good shots.




I got some shopping done of last minute things for the trip and found a silvery short dress at Stein Mart that I could just not pass up. It can be worn by itself or over leggings or jeans. It was half price and a steal so it is going on the trip too!

Then it was off to Posh Scraps to meet up with the too cute and very talented Laura de la Rosa who designs for Graphic 45 paper company among others. She is teaching a wonderful class this Sat. up at Posh. She and I played show and tell on some of our projects our mutual friend, Deb White, had encouraged us to share. We were having so much fun that I forgot to get a single picture of us. Laura and I are going to collaborate on a Glimmer Mist class for some time in November at Posh. Can't wait.

E and I headed over to the kids' house around 5 to baby sit for the Twins. Kristen had open house and Chris had class. Before Chris left, he proudly showed up his pineapple, three years in the making. We have all been teasing him about this for a long time but now her has the last laugh!


The boys were really good for us; one fell asleep til right before his daddy got home and the other played for a bit and then took a nap on Nana's shoulder. We were having too much fun and, again, no pictures.

On our way out of the grocery store later that evening, the sunset caught my eye...the sky was so beautiful and magistic!


We're heading over to the kids again later this afternoon, E is going to paint the kids bathroom for them and I am going to soak up some more Nana time. Hope everyone has a great day.

Last minute shopping almost done...

Ran by Posh Scraps today to meet the lovely Laura de la Rosa and her sweet husband and ended up staying for a bit. I was so excited to see and her amazing pieces she brought to share, I forgot to get someone to take our picture,. She and I are collaborating on a possible class for Posh! Now that would be such fun! Picked up some of the new Crate paper and hope to have some time to play tomorrow morning. I am as ready for our trip as possible.

This is the layout (photo'd a bit crookedly) I did of Landon wearing a bucket hat like his Papa. I have some pics of Colvin too but I'll pick on er ah scrap him next. You may have seen this one on face book or at ACOT.



Speaking of ACOT, tomorrow the new challenges are revealed so be sure to roam on over and see them all. I'll put mine up on my altered blog.

Tomorrow I need to write out some checks for some upcoming crops and pay a bill in advance of its due date so I am not charged those outrageous late fees. I have my list of things To Do and, believe it or not, it is actually shrinking not growing for a change.

E met with our house sitter yesterday and all systems go there. Now, if the tropical storms swirling in the Atlantic all cooperate!

We're off to baby sit this evening and then help with the boys and some bathroom painting tomorrow. I have the Book Club Gratitude Dinner on Thursday evening and I hope to work in a visit to our favorite happy hour hang out on the river Friday. We'll see what we have time to do.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Thinking I should rename this blog...

Babies in Paradise! lol

So, yesterday when Little Mama and the boys came over (Big Daddy was working on the tile in the guest bathroom), we decided it was time for the boys to have their first dip in the pool. First of all, do you know how hard it is to find tiny swim suits under 6 mo size and secondly, doesn't anyone make plastic pants any more for over diapers? Well, until we find one or the other, the extend of the boys as water babies will be limited to a dip or two. Landon loved the water (he is the one I have in arms) and kicked and splashed with his tootsies. Colvin was not as enthusiastic but I am sure he will come around.









The boys are so much more responsive to facial gestures now and are getting quite proficient at sticking out their tongues (a bad Nana trick) and laughed when I made funny faces at them.

E was teaching Landon the finer points of golf as they watched a game on tv together...Landon nodded right off. Golf matches on tv have much the same affect on me! Colvin snuggled with Papa too for some time.

We are doing our first solo babysitting gig Tuesday. Little Mama has back to school night at her elementary school and Big Daddy has class. I am sure we will manage quite well and if all else fails, there is always golf on the tv somewhere.

Dinner Club at Bob and Becky's

We have Dinner Club every other month rotating the hostessing among three couples. When it is time for a couple to host, they pick a theme and that couple does the main course. One couple brings appetizers and the other brings dessert. The host couple has the option of inviting a 4th. couple of their choice.

This month Bob and Becky hosted Dinner Club and the theme was southern cooking and oh my did they ever do a marvelous job. The ribs were so tender, the meat fell off the bone, the green beans and corn bread were a perfect accompaniment,

We started off the lanai and then the rains came. The storm did cool off the early evening and we had Gene's prosciutto and melon appetizers along with his guacamole and salsa dip while we watched the lightening display.





We had a wonderful time visiting with Jack and his lovely wife who are neighbors of Bob and Becky's and seeing Justin and Suzie is always a delight. With Bob and Becky as host and hostess, Suzie's mango coconut cake and Bob playing great honky tonk music on his piano for our after dinner entertainment, we had a delightful evening.
Thank you Bob and Becky.





We have a busy week ahead. Today the kids are coming over for some of E's chicken and sides and we get to play with the grand babies. Are you tired of looking at their pictures yet?

I was going to the Gratitude Dinner for Book Club Tues. night but Kristen has back to school night and Chris has school so I've offered to baby sit for the boys. I have to get my hair cut and the color touched up before our trip and oh, yes! Pack!
I still have a couple of things to get before we leave and I want to make sure I have time to go by Posh and see Laura de la Rosa, the Graphics 45 designer who is teaching a class there on Sat. We have Kristen and the Twins coming over Wed. to spend the day and I want to squeeze in one yoga class before Friday as well.

Happy Sunday to you all!

My Oh My What a Wonderful Day...

Sing along now...zip a do dah, zip a dah day! lol. The crop last night was such fun and it was so good to see my pal, Jackie. She looks great, is feeling pretty good and boy did we get caught up on life. Missed you Di, Jean and Natalie! It was good to see Elizabeth again and know we'll be back meeting on Wed. for fun an games very soon.

I got three layouts done at the crop and, since they are all three on double sided paper, I'll do related layouts on the back and slide them into a page protector and hopefully get them into an album unlike the 200 or so layouts that I have in boxes right now!

I stayed until about 9 last night and then headed home. It had been a long but lovely day and I was tired.

I woke up this morning to news that I had won the last prize of the night at Posh and that it was up at the store for me. Thanks, Michele. You put together the best prize giveaways.

And I say Laura de la Rosa's mini album that she is teaching next Sat. at Posh. Laura is a designer for Graphic 45 paper company and just oozes talent and creativity. I met her through my friend, Deb White and thank her tons for the intro. Laura and I have been talking ever since and now she is going to be at " a scrapbook store near you" ...well, near me. Her class is so reasonably priced, if you live in the Tampa area, this is going to be one of the DO NOT MISS CLASSES!
Even though we are leaving Sunday, I am going to go visit, buy a kit and Laura has graciously offered to help me with it at a later date since I can't stay for the class. Call Posh to sign up and tell them Jules sent you.

Here are my three layouts I completed last night, a pic of the cute Jillybean holiday paper and stamp I won as a prize and a picture of my friend, Gail and I that Mary, Mom Posh, took of us today.

When I said my day just got better and better...well, getting to visit with my friend Gail was the icing on the cake. We met at Posh (obviously), had lunch up the street and got caught up with each other. Gail lives in Vermont and has relatives in the area. We get to see each other a couple of times a year and this was such a treat.

And tonight, as if that were all not enough, we have Dinner Club at Bob and Becky's. See you all soon.







Hope you are having a great weekend!

Just another wonderful day in Paradise

Yesterday started off like any other day here in Paradise, coffee on line with a couple of gal pals, the morning post with Early Birds and KnK, blogging and breakfast with my honey and it got steadier more and more fun,.

I got three great email invites, got to talk to two of my gal pals I hadn't had a chance to talk to lately and then this!



Amy Teets over at ACOT had posted that Helmar was doing a drawing and to be sure to mention her name; so I roamed over, signed in and voila, both Amy and I won some great gifts from the adhesive company, They are doing another drawing today so want to pass on the chance to everyone else. So here ya go, Helmar Adhesives.

Than you Helmar and Amy T. and everyone else who helped make yesterday a wonderful day in Paradise...you know who you are!

I'm off to a crop tonight to Posh Scraps and be sure to check out Laura's mini album class offered next Sat. there. Laura designs for Graphic 45 and is a wonder! I'm not sure I'll have time to take her class because we leave the next morning but I am so going to go bye to say Hey to her...

And so it begins

Last January when Jo and Bill were down for a month, we all fantasized about going on a cruise together. E and I were due for a vacation abroad and had been saving for 'something' for the previous six months or more. Within a few short weeks, we had gone from dreaming about this to deciding where we WERE going and Jo set out to get us the best deal possible...and boy! did she. When I tell the story of her negotiations and what we are getting more for the same amount of cash we started out getting, people want her phone number so she can do this for them.

So, we have spent the past two to three months planning our trip via emails and Jo flew in for almost a week so we could finalize the day trips etc. We have been trying not to count down the days but now we can...EIGHT to go.

And now begins the process of packing. I had lost about 30lbs since my last cruise and had gotten rid of all my upper sized clothes so I had to get some new goodies (breaking my heart here). Other than a new set of jammies and some hose, I think I am pretty well set. E too has taken off some pounds and we got him some really nice things to wear too.

And now to sort and pack...






Jo and Bill told us they pack on their dinning room table so we have started to do the same. E asked that I try to limit my shoes which has been the toughest but I am down to a mere six pairs.

I have a couple of DT obligations to fulfill, a book clue gratitude dinner to attend, a crop this Friday at POSH, Dinner Club this Sat. evening at Bob and Becky's, a hair cut and color touch up, and as many Nana days as I can fit in til it is "Leaving on a jet plane" day. Oh, and happy hour with our house sitter to update him on pool, cats and new router code for computer access.

Color me excited!

Eleven weeks as of tomorrow...

It is so hard to believe that the boys are almost two months old and looking back, it is easy to see all the changes they have undergone. But, speaking as proud Nana, I think they just get cuter and cuter every day.

Little Mama got a two and a half hour nap today with Colvin while Nana, Papa and Landon hung out, hit a few bottles (Landon and milk not us) and took a nap or two. Landon is going through a phase where he wants body contact at all times but he played in the play pen for about a half hour by himself and slept on our bed for a bit over an hour.







The boys are smiling in response to smiles now and tracking us when we walk toward them and away from them. They are starting to mimic facial expressions so Nana is teaching them to stick out their tongues...lol.

We sent Little Mama home more rested, fed and with food enough for a couple of meals for her and Big Daddy. Hoping to see them again on Sat. I need to store up lots of Nana time so I don't miss those little guys as much when we head to the Med. in a couple of weeks. Meeting with our housesitter next week to update him on the cats/pool (fountain motor burned out), etc.

Hope you've had a great day!

Music music music

This may seem a small thing to some but I have just found music by two of my favorite guys that I can load onto my blog...

Jeff Kashawa and Spencer Day.

While we do have surround sound through out the house, I don't have a player here in my workroom. I rely on my blog to provide me with tunes I love and can groove and create to.

I once came across someone who had posted that the songs on most blogs annoyed the hell out of her EXCEPT mine and one other...I sure hope she is still listening that her blog post convinced me that if you don't like the tunes on someone's blog, turn off your speakers!

I love listening to others songs and have "borrowed" some from time to time...my gal pal Becky S has the smokiest songs on her blog and Cathy Nelson has some worthy of putting on my dancing shoes to.

So, without further ado...check out my tunes!

It's Official: I've got a crush on Lost & Found papers by MME

I hit the deck scrapping this morning and am now covered head to toes in glitter both from the beautiful papers designed by Jen Allyson for My Mind's Eye but also the glitter I applied to the photo mat and the corner pieces on Ten Weeks layout of the Twins. The "Birds of a Feather" layout was a fun way to remember our group toast to the 'working people' that we traditionally make every day during our yearly stay at the beach.








I used Picasa to change my photos to sepia and then hit the 'warmify' button to give them more depth. I printed them onto canvas paper and added just a tint of color with soft colored pencils. I love the look this gives to photos.

thanks for looking and hope you have a great day...off to do one more layout and then I'm out of the papers...:(

This house is too quiet

Cathy and Natasha hit the road right after breakfast as they have such a long drive ahead of them...5 hours to Ft. Lauderdale and Noreen headed south as she had uniforms to get ready for this next weeks. And, just to get some noise going in the house, I did laundry! When that did not do the trick, I tried the very best therapy out there, scrapping.






These are some of the new My Mind's Eye glittery, pretty papers from their line, Lost & Found, It is hard to see all the pretty glitter but the second tight shot does give you a general idea, I glittered the flowers, added some bling and inked the alpha letters to match.

It helped to pass the time but after such a fun chatty weekend, this house is still too quiet!