Ten on Tuesday - Looking Forward to May

I can't believe it's the last day of April! This month really did fly by.
I love this week's prompt of 10 things I am looking forward to in May.

1. Going to a scrapbook weekend retreat with my friend Marcy. My scrap bag is already packed because we had the Crop for a Cure last weekend. I can't wait to scrap for two days. I'm planning on finish an album project from 2010!

2. Getting a haircut.
3. Joel starts a new job this month. He took a leap and a risk professionally and it paid off. I'm so very proud of him.



4. Joining a bunch of my friends and their husbands for a fundraiser. It's been a long time since we all went out as couples.
5. Joel goes on a business trip. This will be the first time he's the one spending a night away. Usually it's me who is out of town. 
6. Running outside without gloves. And a headband. And sixteen layers.



New Balance Minimus-WR10GY - light and comfy and neon!
I switched last summer from Saucony Grid as I work on correcting my toe first running stride

7. Going to the Brimfield Fair with Joel and my mom.

8. Getting a new pedicure and finally wearing sandals and flip flops again.
9. Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer. I can't wait to get my toes in the sand.



Coast Guard Beach, Eastham MA

10. Eating crunchy food again. I had my wisdom teeth out in early April and recovery has not been easy or fun. My oral surgeon's answers for everything has been "well you are old." and "if you had these out when you were 16 it would have been a lot easier." So I've been eating a lot of mushy, smushy, soft food. I'm so looking forward to a piece of steak and a big ol' salad. 


It looks like May will be a busy month! What are you looking forward to in May? Hop on over to CaroleKnits to see more great responses. Maybe you'll play along next week?

Ten on Tuesday - 10 April Fool's Pranks

I am definitely not a practical joker or an April Fool’s prank player. 

So this week’s topic was a bit tough for me.

1. from DIY Boston: No Yard, No Problem. Now this headline caught my eye in my blog reader because my husband has a dream of raising chickens some day. I emailed it to him thinking “boy people are crazy for chickens.” He replied back that he thought it was an April Fools Day joke. Duh. (See I told you I’m not good at these things!)
   
   

2. The Tale of Sid Finch from Sports Illustrated circa 1985. I remember reading this article back in the day. This remains in my mind the ultimate April Fool’s Day hoax. This was before the internet so you couldn’t go fact check this article with a quick google search. 
   
   
   The subheading of the article was the big clue: “He's a pitcher, part yogi and part recluse. Impressively liberated from our opulent life-style, Sidd's deciding about yoga — and his future in baseball." The first letters of these words spell out "Happy April Fools Day - ah(a) fib"
   

   
   
3. Quite a few years ago, two co-workers turned every item in our boss’s cube upside down. The furniture, the post-its, his (empty) coffee cup. Everything.
4. Google Nose - for results you can smell.

and now here is where I rely on Google to fill out my list!

5. Netflix added new genres such as “Reality TV about people with no concept of reality”
   

   

   
   
   

   

photos via TechCrunch

6. Birchbox announced a new service called Birchbox for Boxes? For $20 you will get a variety of boxes delivered to your door step every month.
7. Did you see the flashmob that got thousands of people to walk backwards in Times Square? http://www.geekosystem.com/backwards-flash-mob-in-times-square/

and finally, three pranks you could play on your family next year...

8. Serve cake for dinner - mashed potato icing covers a two layer meatloaf cake inside!
9. Lunchtime switcheroo - put carrots in the chip bag and seal the chip bag with glue dots to fool them!
10. Breakfast Fakeout - freeze the milk and cereal, create a poached egg out of yogurt and a peach and pour jello into a glass to look like juice.

There you have it! Some ideas for next year's April's Fool Day.

Head on over to CaroleKnits.net to see more lists and to play along!

Ten on Tuesday - Powerball Edition

10 Things You'd Do If You Won the Big Powerball Jackpot.

OK. So the first thing I would probably do is scream or cry or jump up and down.

Or maybe just stand there and stare with wide eyes and an open mouth.

1. Invest the majority of the winnings so we could live off the dividends and interest.

2. Buy a house in Chatham. Nothing too big. Doesn’t have to be near the water. Just a little place of our own. With a deck. And a pretty guest room for company.

3. Pay off the cars.

4. Set up a charitable foundation. I even have a name picked out “The Letter S”. it will have the tagline of “brought to you by The Letter S” like on Sesame Street.
   
   
   

5. Take my family on a great vacation and fly first class to get there.

6. Hire a cleaning person to come every other week.

7. Set up a trust for Brendan, Nick and Erica. The stipulation is that the money is not to be used until they turn 40 and it must be for something fun, extravagant or out of the budget in their future grown up lives.

8. Upgrade our towels and sheets.

9. Have more of my photography custom framed.

10. Work part-time. 20 hours a week or maybe just 5 mornings a week. I’d still want a reason to get out of my jammies every day, but I’d definitely want more time for crafting, visiting, reading and baking.

This was a lot harder list to come up with than I expected! I guess it’s good to know that there really aren’t a lot of things on my dream list.

Ten on Tuesday - Random Edition

This week's Ten on Tuesday prompt is 10 Random Things on Your Mind.

1. Today it is snowing. Tomorrow is the first day of spring. I’m starting to think this winter will never end.
   
   
2. I really like grapefruit. It’s been my new favorite dessert this winter. So refreshing.
   
   
3. The first paid work holiday of 2013 is Memorial Day. That’s still 10 weeks away.
   
   
4. I am getting my wisdom teeth out next week and I’m extremely nervous about nerve damage and going under general anesthesia.
   
   
5. Two members of my household have had an ACL replaced in the last year - one human and one poodle. Who would have thought?
   
   
6. I have wanted to try a spin class for almost a year. I think this is the week I finally get my butt in there and try it out.
   
   
7. Somehow this “I will only run when chased by a dog” girl has signed up for THREE 5Ks this year. Run for Charlotte in April, Harbor Walk & Run in June, Finish at the 50 in July. 
   
   
   I’ve participated in all of these events before but mostly walked. This is the year I will run!! Especially Finish at the 50! I am going to conquer those darned ramps! You can see them in the left side of this photos.

8. Last week I tried a new recipe, Spinach Ricotta Calzone from King Arthur Flour. It was a simple, easy recipe and perfect for a Lenten meal. I added some broccoli and cauliflower, a little garlic and a dash of red pepper flakes to the filling.
   
   
9. Have you seen the Kelly Purkey Project Kit from Simon Stamps and Kelly Purkey? I love the colors and the clean fonts. I was really really tempted to order it and do a monthly Project Life with it. But then part of me thought - that’s almost as much as the running skirt you want to get. Seriously, who am I? Then by the time I talked myself into buying it, the kit was sold out. Guess I’ll be getting that running skirt at Athleta instead!
   
   
10. We are planning to book a cruise to Alaska for Summer 2014. I'm a little overwhelmed by all the options. Does anyone have any suggestions or information?

Ten on Tuesday is a weekly prompt from CaroleKnits.Net. Go check it out! If you decide to play along next week, let me know in the comments so I can check out your list.

Meet Curious George

Isn't this little guy the cutest? I have had this photo on my desk for quite a while with no ideas on what to do with it. 

Last Sunday I went to a crop and I packed a very, very old Studio Calico kit (Promise you won't judge if I tell you it was HandPicked from April 2008?). The colors worked great with the photo. I find I get a little more creative at a crop because I make myself use just what I packed. In that kit is this crazy Sassafras paper with a big deer on it. I just have never liked that paper. It turned out to be a perfect mat behind the photo. The doodly clouds add a whimsical touch to the page. The Jenni Bowlin gold rub-ons, despite being 5 years old, went on smooth and easy. Definitely want to use some more of those on some cards.

I had used up some of the Sassafras letter stickers that came with the kit so I couldn't spell out George. Luckily, my friend Lynne shared some of her Echo Park letter stickers. That was the finishing touch for my page. 

I'm linking this layout up with Use Your Stuff (critter challenge), TwoPeas Pokey Peas and Shimelle (sketch).

Supplies: Studio Calico Hand-Picked Kit (April 2008), Echo Park Little Boy stickers, brown Slick Writer, CTMH chocolate ink

Ten on Tuesday - St. Patrick's Edition

My high school mascot is the shamrock. I loved when our hockey and basketball teams were in the state playoffs because all the St. Patrick's stuff was in the stores and we could be decked out in all kinds of green shamrock stuff. St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love the wearin’ of the green!

So today I have 10 Favorite Things That Are Green, in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

this photo is from Cinco de Mayo but it's the only one I have of limes!

1. limes
2. brussel sprouts
3. asparagus
4. broccoli
5. avocados (are you sensing a theme here??)
6. Kermit the Frog - after all he’s the guy who sang “It’s Not Easy Being Green”
7. Shamrock Shakes - that neon green minty goodness reminds me of my high school days and zipping through the drive thru in my mom's station wagon with Carrie and Jen
8. the Boston Celtics
9. emeralds
10. cymbidium orchids - were in our wedding flowers and have become one of my favorite flowers

Ten on Tuesday is a prompt from CaroleKnits.net. Go check it out!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Reasons I am Happy it is March.

I really enjoyed this week's prompt. Boy, am I glad that we flipped the calendar to March!
10 Reasons I am Happy it is March.

1. St. Patrick’s Day - and carbomb cupcakes - on March 17
2. Daylight Savings Time begins on March 10
3. Easter on March 31
4. March Madness - UMass is a bubble team this year. wo.o hoo!
5. Unexpected encounters with bunny rabbits scampering across my path.
6. Hearing the birds sing and chatter in the morning.
7. Starting to Plan my Herb Garden and Flowers
8. Green vegetables like asparagus starting to show up in the stores
9. Crocus starting to sprout and flower buds getting fat on the trees
10. The First Day of Spring is March 20!!

Ten on Tuesday is a prompt from Carole Knits. Go check out her blog to see her list and sign up for the prompts so you can play along!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Reasons Why I Am Ready for Winter To Be OVER.

As February draws to a close, here are my top 10 Reasons Why I Am Ready for Winter to be OVER:

1. Shoes and Socks: I am tired of wearing the same three pairs of shoes over and over again. I am tired of matching socks to my pants. I miss sandals and barefeet and pedicures.
2. Static Electricity: I get a shock every week when I push my chair in after our weekly meeting in the boardroom. It’s ridiculous.
3. Dry Skin and Hair: No matter how much I use moisturizer and conditioner, my skin is dull and flaky and my hair is full of flyaways when I brush it.
4. Driving Home in the Dark: This might be the thing I like least about winter. The darkness after work. It’s so hard to be motivated to do things like go to the gym or run errands when it is pitch black at 6 PM.
5. Running on the Treadmill: OK, I never thought I’d be putting this on a list but I really prefer running outside. I’m getting the hang of treadmill running but it’s not the same.
6. Salt and Sand: It tracks in on your shoes and gets all over the car, the foyer, the front steps. I much prefer my salt and sand to be by the ocean.
7. Driving in the Ice and Snow: After the big storm in early February, the piles of snow on the sides of the road made it nearly impossible to pull out onto the main road. The snow starts to melt during the day but as the temperatures drop at night, that water turns to ice making things very slippery.
8. Colds and Coughs: We’ve been lucky to stay pretty healthy this winter. But you should hear the coughing and sneezing around the office.
9. Losing a Mitten or Glove: Every now and then I go to pull my gloves out of my coat pockets and realize I only have one. Apparently, I must drop them in the lobby of my office, so luckily I retrieve that lost glove as I head back out the door. I’m thankful for the kind people who find my lonely glove and put it on the table in the lobby.
10. Being Indoors: I'm ready to go for a walk at lunch. Or take a drive with the windows open. Or sit out on the deck with a book and a coffee. I'm tired of being on the couch in front of the tv!

The Ten on Tuesday is a feature from Carole Knits. Head over to her blog to see more lists!

Ten on Tuesday - Valentine Edition

Ten on Tuesday is a feature from Carole Knits. She sends out a prompt every week.
This week’s topic is Ten Things to Do on Valentine’s Day.

1. Make a romantic dinner together at home. We do this mostly because my birthday is the week before Valentine’s Day so we've already had a nice dinner out. Plus there are no reservations, no pre fixe menus and no marked up prices for smaller portions.

2. Send a Valentine to someone you love. I like to make Valentine’s for the rental kids because they love getting mail!

3. Watch a chick flick - make the lady in your life happy.

4. Watch an action flick - make the guy in your life happy.

5. Bake (or buy) a chocolate dessert. My DH makes a fantastic chocolate mousse that I request every Valentine’s Day. Or how about chocolate whiskey cupcakes in a jar or chocolate cake?

6. Wear red or pink - or both!

7. Serve heart shaped food! Pancakes, toast, your everyday turkey sandwich or how about these heart-shaped salted caramel brownies from Smitten Kitchen?

8. Go to the spa. Get a couples massage with your sweetie. Or treat yourself to a mani/pedi.

9. Go do something fun - take a ballroom dance class, go to a wine tasting, try painting pottery, see a comedy show. Try something new and fun together!

10. Say I Love You.

Second Saturday: February 2013

My friend Celeste Smith and I have been taking photos on the Second Saturday of the  month for the last year. She's great about blogging and scrapping those photos. Mine have just lived on the computer for a year. So I'm going to make a commitment to getting these photos out in the world this year.

Celeste came up with Second Saturday as an alternative to the 12 of the 12th Project because we both work full-time and no one really wants to see a year of cubicle photos, right?

Second Saturday for February 2013 brought a blizzard and 24 inches of snow to New England. We spent the day inside. A driving ban was in effect from Friday at 4 PM until Saturday at 4 PM. I did a lot of cooking - and a lot of dishes. We watched some James Bond movies. We planked. And mostly just enjoyed a snow day.