Weekend
It's been a super-fun weekend so far. I've packed a lot in. Last night I had dinner at the Outback Steakhouse and saw Reign Over Me, the Adam Sandler movie. It was good, a little slow, very depressing, but good.

This morning I had workship team practice at the church, visited with the girls at church who were helping with the yard sale. Then my builder-guy stopped by to hear about all of the things I want to do to my house. I'm scared to hear the quote. Here are the things I asked for:
- New Windows
- New Doors
- Insulation in my walls
- New siding
- Enclose my back porch
- Move my basement door from my kitchen to my newly enclosed porch
- Tiled floor on the newly enclosed porch (preferably with slate)
- Woodburning fireplace on the newly enclosed back porch (not sure if I'll have chimney clearance)
- New gutters

So, how much do you think that'll run me. The first four items are my current priority, after that we'll see how much it'll cost. I may pass out when I get the estimate. But, you have to dream big, right???

So, after an experiment with tacos for dinner, I decided it would be the perfect night to go to Lancaster, right?!?! So, I called mom and dad to see if they wanted to go...45 minutes later we were on the road! They had never been to the Pottery Barn Outlet, and as usual they had great deals. I wanted a white bookcase for the craft room to replace the brown bookcase. I found another one of my cubby-hole bookshelves that serve to hold up my project table. Instead of being around $500, it was $144.97!!!! There's a minor crack in the lower part of one side, but it'll be against a wall. I was so thrilled. It barely fit in the back of my car. I learned how to remove my headrests. I was behaving myself until we got to Pfaltzgraff, but even then I was reasonable. I only bought 6 dishes and 1 glass. The glass was to replace one I'd broken a week or so ago. The 6 dishes were fun, spring colors from the Cupcake Cafe line of dishes. And, if you know me, you know I need more dishes like I need more ribbon! I don't have any spring-colored dishes that aren't china (I think). Dad had a fun time at Black and Decker and was a real trooper in the dish stores! It's a shame we didn't have a bigger vehicle because there were some great pieces of furniture on sale at the PBO. Oh well, there's always next time!!!

TGIF
Are you as happy as I am that it's Friday?!?! I can't wait for the weekend to "officially" begin. I woke up this morning to a beautiful sound. What sound might that be? My septic line from my bathroom being "snaked". Yes, that's a beautiful sound. Why? Because it means I can stop shoveling poop and toilet paper from my backyard now! I think it was pricier than the last time, but it's fixed. I think I'm going to have to have a new pipe pushed through sooner rather than later. He's happy to keep snaking - maybe because he charges me $125 a pop. But, we both agree that it would be better to do it before I finish my back porch - just in case he has to take out a portion of the back porch to put in the new pipe. I hope it doesn't get to that point. That would SUCK.

However, he did bring up the alley. If you remember, I've been CONSTANTLY complaining about my dirt alley. Apparently he got a quote to get it paved - $2000. Not bad if the 10 or so houses that use it all chip in! I'd probably even get my little driveway paved. I'd like to see it happen. I also explained what I learned about the property lines when I got it surveyed. So, we'll see what happens next. He complains about the mud. He's the one that has a driveway that leads out onto Main Street!!!

Then I ran to Millville and spent the gift card that's been burning a hole in my pocket at Michael's. Without really trying, I was within 8 cents of the limit - yippie - free stuff! I got felt flowers, acrylic paint, a wooden frame for crafting, some foam brushes, some ribbon (because I'm close to running out of ribbon), Modge Podge, a couple of cardboard boxes to decorate, and that might be it.

So, because I'm mad at my client - so mad that I was almost in tears last night. So, I've been ignoring work and making cards. Claire inspired me to use my paisley stamp and my white gel pen. I've also been trying to make some Bold Bright cards. Apparently I'm in a western kick, as you'll see when you look at my pictures. Here's a little sales pitch - on two of the three cards, I used the stamp set and the jumbo wheel to make the backgrounds. If you changed your mind and wanted to get the "bundle" and half priced item after seeing my cool cards, call me before the end of the month!!! Okay, enough business for now. Check out my designs!!! And, yes, one of them has non-SU product. I was inspired by the new PaperCrafts magazine - they talk about incorporating felt.

Stamping Inspiration
Okay, I know, I know...it's only 8:42 and I'm on my second posting of the day. But, I had to make sure you saw two new links that I added to my blog. Check out Paperlicious and Stampin' Kub The Stampin' Kub site is quite impressive. It's a guy whose mother is a SU demonstrator. That's right - male, teenager, and he has more talent in his pinky than I do. He has some great designs. Check them out! Be inspired!

Question of the Day
Okay, here's my question - how often do you wash your sheets? I wash them once a month (if I remember). I admit, I should probably do it more oftne. However, I was talking with someone last night who washes them once or twice a week. Now, I'm sure that we're on different ends of the spectrum, but that seems a bit extreme to me. This person even said they only like to sleep on one side of the pillow per night. Meaning, they switch out their pillow cases after two days. Who is the one that is more "normal" here?

Me, a Winemaker
I didn't know what I would write about today until I stumbled across an article on CNN this morning. It was about the World's Coolest 11 New Products. The first product was a mini winery for your kitchen. I want one!!! They're super cool. I'm on the waiting list. Who knows if I'll "pull the trigger" and order one when my name comes up, but I'm on the list! Maybe if I save some of my per diem money, I can afford the thing. Anyone know where I can buy 15 gallons of grapes?!!??

Okay, I'll stop procrastinating and go back to work now.

I Did It
I have to share this with someone, so I'll share it with my little internet community. I was nervous, but I just uploaded my database to my client's network for all to see. It's just a sample database, but they can now play. My biggest fear = they hate it. However, one user has been in there for an hour or so and has very few "real" complaints. Most are formatting issues. I can handle those. So, 9 days and counting until I'm out of here!!! I have no idea where I will be next week. My primary point of contact is going to be in DC.

Happy Monday
I'm mad at my scale today. It's been giving me the EXACT same weight since Friday. How is that possible? People fluctuate?!?!? So, my weight loss total is still 13 pounds in 3 weeks. Watch me drop 3 pounds tonight and I'll be mad because I have to wait a full week to report those results! Then I'll stress about keeping the pounds off all week. UGH.

Anyway....I had a fun weekend. But, I hate snow. Didn't I say that a few weeks ago? Didn't I say that I wouldn't shovel the stupid white crap ever again because of my back pain? Well, of course it had to snow or sleet or whatever the heck came down on Friday night. Of course I had company coming over Saturday morning so I couldn't wait for it to melt. Of course I had to shovel my little heart out. Most of it is melted now, but I HATE SNOW.

Yes, I'm having a very positive day, can't you tell?

Anyway, back to my fun weekend. I had a stamping event on Saturday which was lots of fun. Janis, Kelly, Elaine, and Julie all came over and made lots of fun items - a Photo Wallet, double slider card, a Chinese Take-out box, a Long Note, and a card using a new watercolor technique! I think I'll make only one complex project next time. None of them seemed to be "in love" with watercolor like I am. Oh well. After the event, Julie, Kelly, and I sat around trying to design Kelly's thank you cards. We came up with several ideas. I'm afraid I wasn't much help - I was pretty spent from the event.

I was a bum on Sunday. I was recovering from my shoveling. But, I did manage to go out and run some errands. Remember my Coach purse from Baltimore? I returned it yesterday. But, they were having a sale and I must have waited in line for like 45 minutes to return the stupid thing. Then, I popped over to Talbots because I had $50 in reward coupons. So, I picked up a couple of shirts and paid $6. So, it was a good day. Last night I then had to do all of the work I didn't do last week. I'm happy to say it's all done and I think I'm sitting pretty for this week. We'll see if that's true now that I've turned over my database for testing! I'm a bit scared. But, next week is my last week on this project. Yippee!! The end is in sight!

Oh, and I've now realized how much I may hate my new schedule. Yes, I'm back on 4, 10-hour days. BUT, the last half of May is going to be NUTS!!! I have now realized that I will only be home 2 of the 18 nights between May 14 and May 31st! Isn't that crazy?!?!?! I'm going to be a hermit for the month of June.