Orchids!

Yesterday, my friend Nina and I went to an Open House for Orchids! I have never seen so many Orchids in one place ~ well maybe the Flower show... but hey that's they way they are.
I fell in love all over again with Flowers.. I could not believe how many different varieties and color combonations there were. Simply Breathtaking, then we had lunch after at Bucca de beppo, another fun place. There is no order for the following photos, I just selected 5 of them to show here, with the last one the type Nina purchased for me.

This is the color and type I have, now to find the perfect spot in my craft room.

It was a great way to spend a gloomy yucky day! Today, I am working on some layouts and cards, I have been busy just not posting them here no reason why, just havent... lol

I do want a trip to Archiver's 30% off coupon burning a hole in my wallet I tell ya!

Did recieve happy mail on Friday - order from Unity came.... I love getting things in the mail, so I guess I will be making some layouts and cards with new stamps soon. I think I am going to start a collection of gifts with homemade cards, and perhaps a fun box for storage.. thinking ahead for birthdays and Christmas. I have been trying to use up stash, but lets face it I NEVER EVER EVER will be able to use all the stuff I have.. Time to weed out some I guess, but how to part with something you loved but now seriously have not even used.. I honestly think I could win the contest for most unused patterned paper. Tell me blog readers what do you own way to much of??
Until next time!

a bit o progress

So, onward with the Unity story. I placed another where is my order calltoday. Got ahold of Andrea who says she will reprint my invoice and check into it. Verified my phone number and let me go. I waited for about 10-15 mins max for the call back. She did not dissapoint this time. Called back, apologized and told me they shipped out yesterday. :-) Good news for me.. Hopefully they will arrive tomorrow if not then maybe Saturday.
Probably a good think not today. I have felt crummy all day, eyes want to shut, and I never feel this way unless overtired. so possibly a nap instore for me? Hoping to seperate my Aquarium photos and get them ready to scrap.
Until next time!

Shedd Aquarium

What to do at 4am? Upload photos of Aquarium visit? write on long neglected blog? Think about your recent order at Unity Stamp and have to call and complain about lack of Customer Service? oh yes, the things we think about when we should be sleeping!!!

Last week my good friend Nina and I went downtown Chicago to the Shedd. Love this Aquarium, besides the fabulous view of the Skyline off Lake Michigan, we have a great aquarium filled with lots of fun things, got my photos developed and can't wait to scrap them.
1. Sponge fish

Seahorses, forgot to copy this one so it will mean another few minutes at the photo lab on friday!

Snake fish

Don't remember the name of this one, however it was striking and I love how it came out.

and quite possibly my favorite one, the Starfish

We had an amazing time and best of all it was totally FREE, as part of Target Corporate days!

gotta love free admissions....

Now my deal with Unity. I realize it is a new company and starting to expand however I really expect good, no let me say Great Customer Service everywhere... (so many years of my being in Customer Service)... I love the product they have great stamps for the price and the fact that they are co branding with major paper lines that I use and love. However an email or phone call goes a long way in resolving a problem... I placed an order back in Jan. for some of the new stamps to come out (CHA stuff) expected them not to ship till after the 7th of Feb as they stated when ordering... NOT to mention everytime I try placing an order I have to struggle with the order process... UGH. I paitently waited till the 21st to see if they arrived, nothing yet so I place a call to them on that day. Got in contact with them and was told they were having a snow storm again.. and should get an email later that day or the next.. ok, i'll be paitent a bit longer... it's now Thursday and no response so I will have to call them later again.. In the meantime I did recieve my kit of the month, questioning wether to continue with it or not now, Service goes along way with me. sorry to my few feaders, but I am tired remember I said it was 4am... lol and really just want my stamps... hehehe....

I did pick up some small 4 x 6 paper pads from the new Stella Rose line by My Minds Eye... oh they are so pretty... these smaller versions have the smaller prints, great for Cardmaking makes me think of Kristii and her amazing cards...

Until next time!

Long Time NO Blog!

Hello Blogland~ Happy 2011~ I have been reading everyones blogs, but just found it easier to post on FB ~ I truly have missed blogging here though and figured I would post tonite. I have been crafting, not sure If I posted these two layouts before I got lost.. lol

This was created with the Jillibean Soup Christmas line this year, I loved how it came out, now just really need a photo to put on it. :-) Huge hint to my sister to send a couple along...

I created this one for my Niece Sarah's album when my dad visited. I jsut love the Unity Stamps.... so much I joined their Kit of the Month.... Yikes...... but so worth it so far. I got my January set and love it, looking forward to the new releases too, I ordered them all up! lol

the Banner is Unity and the Owl and trees are from the Bella Blvd. Honey I'm home set.. If you have not gotten any of these stamps I strongly suggest you check them out... they are great.

Now on to Snowmageddon 2011 as we were calling it in the Windy City. Actually when all was said and done and the sun was shining I was in heaven... Love this photo of the front of the house. But longing to forget the 45/50 mph wind gusts while trying to shovel... snow drifts 3 / 4 feet high, and of course on to -negative degree temperatures....

This was our street the very first time I had to ever call off work and had a real "snow day" was because the STREET was not Plowed... lol our neighbor took his snowblower and created a snow maze in the street to get across.... gotta love it.

I loved this little Owl flag I picked up at Michaels, it really brightens the front yard with all this snow.. Just barely can see it now :-)

This past fall and on into winter has been amazing for my Bird watching hobby. I have finally lured a few Blue Jays to our feeders Up to 3 at once... lol

Also a White Breasted nuthatch, they are now coming in pairs, I have the Red Breasted ones also but no photos of them yet

Oh MY! and yes I even have a Red Tailed Hawk that comes from time to time lookin for a snack or two.

This was pretty amazing to see, last month I had a huge flock of Robins at the waterfall in yard.. they were so excited to stop and visit. Also the day after the snowstorm they were eating the berries off front yard tree!

Until next time!