Be . . .

I found this on my desk after I came back from lunch.

My friend Jessica gets me . . . and this note made a huge difference in my day.
Find your joy for today!
BE HAPPY!

National Pig Day . . . .

I received this fun little package in the mail just in time for National Pig Day.

Thank you to Lorraine (Paper Vernissage) for the wonderful surprise . . . this little beaded pig is adorable.  I was completely unaware of National Pig day until 5 years ago when I happened upon Lorraine's  Pigs on Parade challenge.  This package also arrived on a day when I needed a smile!

Thank you Lorraine for the happy mail, the smile, and how you always inspire me. 

birthday wishes and blue jays . . .

What a wonderful surprise in my mailbox from Paper Vernissage.  Thank you Lorraine!

I love that background stamp!

Tucked inside was this little drawing of some blue jays . . . which happens to be our school mascot.  This  will definitely find a place on my desk.  

banana cream pie . . .

You create your own opportunities

~ and sometimes they're really quite delicious.

This is what happened in my kitchen tonight.  I had decided not to make it because it was getting late . . . but my dear friend needs a banana cream pie on her birthday tomorrow.  So I am up late making a pie, making a mess, and making it so that I will probably be tired tomorrow. 

The pie turned out wonderful . . . I can't wait to taste it. 

October Happy Mail . . .

Last week I was expecting a package from the zombie doll swap that I had joined.  I was so excited when it arrived with  Woodstock Wendy and all her goodies . . . but yesterday I was not expecting anything and what a surprise when our mailbox had not one, but two packages waiting for me.

 I recognized that familiar blue flying pig tape.  That box was from Lorraine - Paper Vernissage  

 Filled with fun little paper pockets . . . which may just be cut and folded into paper cranes.  

 Lorraine makes the most beautiful cards.  This skeleton is cut out of paper and the coloring underneath is wonderful.  She said she was experimenting with some powdered watercolors.  The experiment was a success!

I love it . . . 

. . . and everything else! 

Stickers . . . ribbons . . . a lovely lavender sachet . . . . munchies . . . a book mark . . . 

I will probably wear that day of the dead bracelet throughout the whole year!

Thank you Lorraine! 

 . . . and then another box.  This one was from my zombie doll partner Val - Yarnigras.  I could not have been more surprised.  She said she had forgotten the Halloween goodies in my first package.  Oh how I love Halloween goodies.  This little Frankenstein pin cushion will find a spot on my sewing desk (too cute just for Halloween)

  . . . a cute owl timer

. . . a beautiful handmade scarf.  The colors are perfect for this time of year!

. . . and look at this Day of the Dead apron! 

 I was just looking at all the wonderful Day of the Dead fabrics in the store this week.  I have always been interested and liked the tradition of Day of the Dead . . .

 but I also think for me . . . it is all the colors. My three year old granddaughter looked and it and told me, "That's really cool." . . . and it is!

Thank you so much ladies!!!! 

You not only surprised me . . . your thoughtfulness touched my heart!

Forever . . .

They say nothing lasts forever.  

We'll have to prove them wrong.

I love these Forever stamps.  They are much cuter than the American flag ones that I tend to use because I can buy them when I am at the grocery store.  I had to stand in line at the post office to get them.  I think the grocery store should carry a variety of postage stamps, but then I guess they don't want to deal with people taking the time to make up their mind what stamp they want.  It is probably easier for them to just have the one kind . . . easier is not always better.

 I found this wonderful card in my mailbox this week - from my friend Dawn . . . my little Sis.  I met her when I was in 6th grade.  I miss her terribly . . . one of the big drawbacks of moving 2000 miles away from where I grew up.  

The power of the #2 . . . this was a postcard we received in the mail at work.  Something about it I liked . . . so it may find it's way into a journal.  

My little ladies . . . life doesn't get any better than this!

"What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment 

that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce."  

~ Karl  Lagerfeld

random stuff on my desk . . .

"The essence of life is not in the great victories and grand failures,

but in the simple joys."  ~ Johnathan Lockwood Huie

The things I find on my desk . . . a heart made of Cheerios?. . . magic lemons from Iraq?

Things like this just make me smile . . . and realize just how great life is and how special the people in my life are!

Now, I need to find out more about these lemons . . . 

Rally Day!

We had a circus theme rally at school today . . . the reason I was making the lion costume.  So a little last minute face painting . . . and this big cat was ready for the rally.

I wish I had taken more pictures and I wish I could post pictures of the kids.  

The rally was fantastic! . . . Our staff is fantastic!

origami heart . . .

Today's heart of the day is an origami heart that sits on my desk - made by a good friend a couple of years ago.  It is getting a little worn . . . people are always picking it up and asking about it.  

"I get by with a little help from my friends."

~ The Beatles

Friday Night . . .

Friday night . . .  music, friends, and some Chinese food.  That always makes for a fun Friday night.  It didn't seem like Friday at all yesterday.  In fact I have been off work long enough to sort of forget what day it is.  I like to think that that is sign it has been a good vacation . . . or maybe a sign that it is time to go back to work.
I can very easily fall into the "being off work" mode.  I stay up late, drink too muck coffee, start projects in the middle of the night, spend way too much time watching movies.  I sit down to read or journal and before I know it, it is 2:00 in the morning.  We take off in the middle of the day to play tennis, or get lunch . . . and the days fly by.  It has been a great vacation . . . with a couple more days to enjoy.  I am looking forward to going back to work next week . . . but I will miss all the extra free time that come along with being off work.

It's beginning to look a lot like a birthday . . .

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest bosses ever!

This year's birthday decorations . . . 

We like to surprise him with something on his birthday . . . You can look here and here to see a couple of his other birthdays.

yesterday . . .

No real reason for this post . . . other than spending time with people I enjoy.
Yesterday was a good day . . .