Ink-Paper-Scissors...Rock!

We are shoveling out today...

Hi Everyone ~

Brrr...

Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas.  It went by so fast.  I hope you were able to relax and enjoy family and friends this year.  We sometimes get bogged done with to do lists and trying to fit so much in that we forget what we really need is to stop and enjoy each other and the moments we have.

I have taken some time off of my computer in December to try to slow down and enjoy the time with family and friends.  And because I chose to do that I didn't post as much as I had intended.  I am sorry about that. 

Today we are going to have to spend the day shoveling out.  Ole Man Winter really left us with a lot of snow yesterday ~

These pictures were taken out my front door last night while it was still snowing.  We got plenty more after these were taken.

Enjoy your day ~ take a few minutes today for yourself!  I know I will make some time to get in a little stamping.  Check back later to see what I was able to create!

Merry Christmas ~

What a wonderful weekend...

Hi Everyone ~

Hope you all has a wonderful Halloween weekend.  I totally enjoyed my weekend.  I have so much to tell you.

First I am sorry but my battery is being charged on my camera so I don't have new samples to show you in this post.  BUT I do have plenty to share about my last two weeks. 

I will start with last weekend.  A few demonstrators were invited to spend the weekend at our friends cabin in Up State NY.  Tina is also a SU demo and our UpLine!

What a special weekend we had - enjoying some stamping time, chatting and catching up, sharing stamping ideas, & just relaxing.  Tina prepared all our meals and I have to tell you that girl can cook!

I wanted to show you some of the scenery we enjoyed during a walk we took ~ 

the first 2 shots are of Tina's Cabin ~

AMAZING right?  Each one of these could be a postcard.  It just took my breath away.

Sadly the weekend had to end.  I totally enjoyed my time there.  The company could not have been better! 

NEXT ~ On October 28th my daughters Senior Class put on a Freight Night for the public.  Much hard work and dedication by a great group of Seniors and their Advisors.  They will use the money toward their Senior Prom.  My daughter was able to contact the make-up artists from Great Adventure in our area and they sent a Make-up Artist to do the kids makeup.  What a great artist they sent he was there from 2:30 to about 7pm working on all the kids.  He was patient with everyone and just did an awesome job.

The night started about 5:30 with a not so scary theme so that the little kids could enjoy some Halloween fun too!  As the day turned into night all bets were off and it was super scary.  There was howling, chain saws (fake of course - but the sound was very real), & ghost in the night!  What fun everyone had.

Here are a few early pictures ~

Still planning just before the little guests were let in ~

My daughter is on the right!  She was a scary glown in a Jack - in - the - Box!

Here is a shot of her before the festivities began. 

As the dark of the night rolled in I couldn't get any good pictures - but let me tell you it was SCARY!

Yesterday we enjoyed our traditional homemade pizza, salad, cider, & donuts.  My mom has had this Halloween tradition for more than 40 years.  She made 6 pizza pies this year along with a huge salad and there was cider and donuts for everyone!  Sorry I don't have any pictures to show you.

Before I went to help my mom make pizza and get ready I had a morning of cooking myself.  I spent a few hours yesterday cooking for my son.  Matt is in college and has his own apartment this year.  So I made about 6-1/2 lbs of chili and 6 lbs of meatballs with gravy for him.  I freeze them in containers then he has them for dinners.  He can easily cook up some macaroni and heat up the gravy and meatballs - instant dinner!  Much better than store brought - and cheaper too!

Chili to the left and Meatballs to the right!

That should hold him for a while.

Last time I included a few containers of homemade soup. 

Thanks for sticking it out and letting me share with you my adventures these last couple of weeks.  I promise that I will be back with NEW SAMPLES. 

Come back later - you won't be disappointed I promise!

Happy Stamping ~

 

What a weekend...

Sorry this post is a family update - we had a big weekend here that I wanted to share.

Matthew graduated high school yesterday.  I have to keep saying that - I just can't believe it.  I really don't know where the years went. 
We were so blessed when Matt was born.  He has brought so much love and laughter into our lives.  The past 18 years have been amazing.  We have had so many memories through the years.  There has been so much to be thankful for.

 
Matthew - June 20, 2009


Matthew and Samantha just before he put is cap and gown on!
My babies are growing up.


Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there.  May you enjoy your family - cherish each moment - they go by too fast.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Peace and Happiness in the New Year. 

My Husband is always telling me I am One of a Kind...

usually under his breath.  Just kidding~
Well I am happy and sad to say I am not.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 254 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

There are 254 of us! With the same name that is ~ Annette Stewart. 


But if I search the name I was born with ~ Annette Matarazzo ~ well then you can say I really am one of a kind!

HowManyOfMe.com

There is 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I found this search over at Sharon's Blog - PaperFections and thought it was something fun to post. 

I have been crazy busy as most of you are getting ready for Christmas and have not yet edited my pictures I want to post.  I do hope to get some posted tonight as I am "Just" finishing up some Cookie Baking and addressing my Christmas cards. 
Enjoy!

My niece is designing...

Take a look.  I don't usually post family stuff but I am so proud of my niece Carmela.  She has designed 2 purses. I thought I would help her to get her name out there so I decided to post them here!

The are really well made and cute!

I would love to know what you think~
 

Heart Satchel Purse - $19.99 plus $9.80 Priority Mail.

This purse has a fun purple lining.  If you would like additional photos - Please email me at: annette@ink-paper-scissors-rock.com

  This is the second purse - a Hobo Bag done in a Bronze tone.  It has great detailing and really lays nice when filled with my stuff!

Hobo Original - $14.99 plus $9.80 Priority Mail

These purses are priced extremely well.  Give them a try you can't go wrong.  They make great gifts and as you can see on the Hobo Bag they even have her company tag on them.  Her company name is Speranza.

A little background about Carmela~
She is 24 years old - She has put herself through college for design while working full time.  She is now currently employed and on the side has started her own company "Speranza" which means "Wish" in Italian. 
While she waits to get a website created I thought I would help her out and showcase her first purses on my blog.  I am so proud that she has taken this giant leap and would love to see her succeed. 

It would be so nice of you to leave her comments of support and encouragement.  If you would like to purchase them - just hit the Buy Now buttons and she will ship them right out to you.   

Someone Cares...

I am not sure if anyone feels like this - but lately I just feel like the family housekeeper, maid, taxi driver, sports cheerleader, grocery shopper, bookkeeper, mom, wife, sister, daughter, Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, etc.  I could go on and on.  This is all aside from having a job. I  have been feeling a bit overwhelmed and started questioning why.  Is all this important?  Does anyone respect me, appreciate me?  Does anyone care?
I guess you can say I was having a pity party. 
Then I received a card from a friend (fellow stamper in my stamper's 10 club) - A thinking of you card - Beautiful flowers on the front - each flower had the name of the flower and the corresponding word to go with it (example - Rose - Love, Carnation - Joy).  The card and the sentiment touched my heart BUT the really surprise was when I turned the card over and read the message on the back. 
It shouldn't but it always amazes me that God knows what we need, when we need it and delivers it.  We are so well taken care of by our Father.
Here is what I read on the back of the card...

Someone Cares
I read recently that by the time you reach age seventy-five you might easily have slept the equivalent of twenty-five years of your life.  I think I've already spent at least that much time watching.  Last week I watched my son Ross Play trombone in a jazz band concert, my daughter Maria dance in a recital and my husband Paul's barbershop quartet in concert.  Soon, I'll begin the springtime rite of sitting on hard metal bleachers watching countless hours of high school baseball.
I was telling my mom that maybe I should be doing more and watching less when she laid the truth on me in her reliably sensible way.  "We can't all be stars," she said, "Somebody has to watch, or it would take all the fun out of performing."  Then I remembered how our daughter rushed up to us after last years school musical.  "Did you see my dance?" she wanted to know.  The fact that Mom and Dad had seen her seemed as important as the dance itself.
My mom also pointed out that there's more to my role than simply watching:  Somebody has to drive to rehearsals, get the piano tuned and volunteer to bring the post-game snack.  None of that may be glamorous, but I've learned that the performance - or whatever form that "starring role" takes - couldn't happen without the supporting players.  We watchers play an important role in the lives of others, who need to know that someone is cheering especially for them.
Author - Gina Bridgeman

So when I think all that I do doesn't matter I will remember it matters. 

I may not get as much time to stamp these days while I'm sitting on those hard metal bleachers, at a recital, or running endless errands - but it matters.  God assures me it matters.

Have a wonderful day -

Annette

I've been tagged...

Sue tagged me and I'll play along! The rules of the game:
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Now for the 7 random facts about me:
1.  I am one of 8 children - I have 3 sisters and 4 brothers
2.  I grew up in a large close Italian family - 35 cousins on my fathers side of the family.  We all grew up on the same street and went through school together - FUN!  By best memories of my childhood are times we all spent together.
3.  My husband & I bought my grandparents home - in the middle of all my aunts and uncles (and parents too)
4.  I met my husband in college  -  he was my math tutor
5.  I am a certified Ceramic Teacher.  I love to paint!
6.  Contrary to my husband's belief I don't like to nag.  I find it a waste of time - they are not listening anyone!
7.  I belong to a Women's Bible Study.

I am not sure if these facts are all that random -
I will tag a few people now - I know this tagging has gone around a lot so I am not sure I will be able to tag 7 new people - but I think that is okay.

I am tagging - Barb, Melissa,  and Lauren!  Check out their blogs.  These ladies have awesome ideas and are very creative.  They have all inspired me with their work.
Thanks ladies -

It's Sunday morning and the sun is shinning...

After all the snow - it is nice to see the sun so bright!  Don't get me wrong - I love the snow ~ watching it fall, seeing the trees covered in white!  It just wouldn't be winter without a little white ~ right.

I just wanted to let you all know Samantha is doing well.  She has one more day of isolation and she can not wait to get out of her room.  She is so bored (although she has tons of movies, her computer, cell phone, and music).  She has also been on a no (low) iodine diet and has had it with that too.  I feel so bad for her but what ever it takes to get rid of the cancer I am for! 

It is my hope to stamp a little today - after chores are done!  SO I hope to be posting some stamped items later.

Thank you all for all your thoughts and prayers for Samantha.  We appreciate each and every one.

Have a stampin' good day!

Million-Inch Chain...

Join the chain by cutting or pledging to grow your own hair ~ Samantha did!

As you know my 14 year old daughter Samantha had her thyroid removed in December.  She was diagnosed with Papillary Carcinoma in November.  So many of you sent emails and comments with your prayers, loving thoughts, and support. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  God carried Samantha through this trial with such grace.  As my husband and I watched her handle the news and surgery we were in awe.  She was truly amazing for a 14 yr old.  She had a plan from the beginning - only telling a select few (3) of her closest friends exactly what she was going through.  The rest only knew she was having her thyroid removed.  Sam anticipated her friends reactions and knew that she had to deal with this herself and decided she didn't want to deal with a school full of kids knowing she had cancer.  She knew what kids her age thought cancer meant.  It is only now that the surgery of over and she is back in school (awaiting treatment) that a few others are finding out.  Samantha had the time she needed to deal with it and have the surgery and now she can deal with others knowing.  This particular cancer is curable and once all the treatment is over and time passes she will be cured.

Before finding out she had cancer Samantha had helped a family friend out a few times.  They went to the local hospital (children's ward) and built teddy bears with all the children.  This touch Sam deeply - seeing some of the same children there each time she went.  Knowing they had cancer and other diseases yet they were so upbeat - they found a place in her heart.  She decided then that she wanted to give back.  Donating her hair was something she could do herself. 

She researched until she found a place she liked that she could donated her hair to make wigs for cancer patients ~  Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths - Check this website out. It is such a great thing they are doing and you can too.  The hair is made into FREE wigs.

Hillary Swank donated her ponytail to launch the Million-Inch Chain of hair. 

As Pantene Beautiful Lengths wigs are created, they are distributed for free through select American Cancer Society wig banks across the country. Women facing cancer can find out about the availability of a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig by calling the American Cancer Society at 1-877-227-1596. The Society can also help callers with a number of resources providing educational and emotional support.

Samantha had her hair cut today and it will go in the mail on Tuesday (Monday is a Holiday) to:  Pantene Beautiful Lengths.

Her dad and I could not be more proud of her.  Not only has she dealt with her own cancer she wants to help others.  She realizes how blessed she is and wants to give back.

                                                                                               Doesn't she look GREAT!

Thanks for stopping by~

I promise I will post some stamping related stuff later!