Elzybells New Release!

have you seen all the new Elzybells stamps shown on the design team's blogs all week? I adore the sweet background stamp (must get it) but I want to tell you about it just in case you missed it! oh and also to get in on the mega blog candy giveaway when I post an announcement here!

Spreading the word...

about some blog candy out there I've found...

Artfully Ila has some new High Hopes candy - have you SEEN her coloring? Amazing!!! You have until Friday morning. Just spread th word like I am on your blog & let Ila know.

Claudia Rosa - Prett Pressings - has a sweet Magnolia book with 200 images in it to give away. You have until the 19th for this one. Read her post about the different things to do to be eligible to win!

Blogging with a Purpose & a RAK

Deborah at Sharing my Obsession awarded me with the above sweet award saying, "Thanks to all of you for either the comments that you leave and lift my spirits and/or the inspiration that you provide each and every day!"

Wow - this is my first time seeing this award and I am quite honored. Deborah is such a sweet lady who makes the time to leave sweet, encouraging comments. Be sure to check out her great blog!

I'd like to extend this award to the following because of their unique style of crafting (by that I mean, whatever their sharing entails because when you go to Nan's blog, you will see she is not really a stamper, but so creative when it comes sharing her passion of cooking, sewing & just realized she is an author, how cool is that?!), they are strong in their faith, sweet, encouraging and downright talented! Go visit their blogs (if you haven't already) and give them some love because they are BLOGGERS with a PURPOSE.

Charmaine - Oodabug Alley

Melanie - Hands, Head & Heart

Marilyn - Stamp with Marilyn

Nan - Pots & Pins

Rose Ann - Paper Delightz

and speaking of Rose Ann - check out the awesome RAK she sent me this week - I so loved it when she posted it (using Unity Stamps - review on SCS) can you believe she cut out the little birdie legs? it is a fabulous card with the banner on the bottom & I love the paper pieced tree!

You Cheer Me Up Award

Monika M.A.D. Stamper awarded me the You Cheer Me Up Award- how sweet?! I'm so glad I decided to send a BRAK (birthday RAK) to Monika March 2007 - but totally missed her birthday this year, how awful! Anyway we have sent one another RAK's ever since and I've enjoyed the surprise of every one of them! I totally LOVE this episode of I Love Lucy, I think I would do the same if I worked in a candy factory (would NOT be a good idea for my lack of a waistline, it would just keep expanding) I say this as I see a few pieces of chocolate next to my computer - HA! but they ARE miniatures ones *wink*

Edited to Add: Sophia at Moonlight Inker gave me the same award over the weekend, how kind of you because I do feel the same about you, friend - thank you! Check out her blog if you haven't already, it is sweet eye candy for the stamper!

I'd like to extend this award to the following ladies who always manage to Cheer Me Up with their sweet comments on my blog, which I totally look forward to EVERY day and motivates me to post every day too! There are SO many other ladies out there, but I wanted to recognize some ladies I hadn't before who always manage to take the time to comment on my creations. Thanks, Ladies! Check out their stuff!


Chris - Scrappin & Stampin in Texas
Deborah - Sharing my Obsession
Jennie - Jen & Sheldon's life
Kelly - My Little Hobby
Michele - Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker

Arte Y Pico Award from Joanne

Joanne - Just a Little Something awarded me the Arte Y Pico (Art & More) Award. It is given to bloggers who share their art and creativity making their contribution to the blogging world.
Here are the rules: Thank you, Joanne!! Consider yourself tagged back because I LOVE your blog, artwork too!

1. You pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4. Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

I'm going to give this award to the following ladies:

Angie Tieman - Schwooo!
Barb Schram - Explore, Dream, Discover
Carolina Buchting - Carolina's Creative Pad
Lee Murphy - My Reality........It's All Good
Linsey Rickett - Outside the Lines

You Make My Day Award

Thanks to Rose Ann of Paper Delightz who nominated me for he above award! Little does she know she makes my day too!! She is so sweet, very talented and is so encouraging!

The rules:
Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on.

I'm going to try to pick some gals who haven't been chosen yet that do "Make My Day" and I am grateful for taking the time to check out my blog.

ANNOUNCEMENT - tomorrow, January 14 is my BLOG ANNIVERSARY! It will be one year since I started this blog to share my stamping, scrapping and a little of my life with anyone interested. I will be posting some BLOG CANDY tomorrow evening - stay tuned!!

My nominations:

Melanie Muenchinger - Hands, Head & Heart - if you read my blog you will see several posts about my local friend who just designed her first stamp set 'Just so Hippy' that Gina K Designs launched recently. I love this girl!

Ila - Artfully Ila (have you seen this woman's coloring technique? it's just fabulous!) She has some awesome cards on her blog!!!

Angie Tieman - Schwooo! I met (but not officially) at the N. Dallas SCS Shoebox Swap Oct '06 she gave a demonstration. She won SU! Artisan Award last year, she's got a great style about her & her stamping too!

Simone Collins - Daily Dose of Spazz - She is so cute! A single mom who loves to stamp & scrapbook who is doing a great job raising her boy Max.

Michelle Kovak - Thoughts of a Card-making Scrapbooker - check out Michelle's blog, she is very talented and seems like the greatest mom around!!

Jennifer Ofiana - Jen's Stampin' Spot - Jen is a great stamper! She was chosen for the C.C. Designs Design Team and I have enjoyed ALL she's made! We recently discovered we grew up in the same city! We have both moved on (she's still in CA but I'm not anymore). Small world, huh??

Nicole Cooke - The Stampin' Librarian - Nicole is the sweetest and on the design team of Kitchen Sink Stamps (quite an enabler because of it). I'll never forget she sent me my first blogger's RAK!

Dawn Easton - Treasure Oiler Designz - Dawn is a sweetheart, great stamper and mom!

Velta - Impressions by V - Velta has been so encouraging since she discovered my blog, even commenting that I should write a book *smile* She seems like a precious woman, check out her blog, she has wonderful creations on there!!

Kathy Hatzke - Kathat Stamps - Kathy is awesome! I love her cards, she also lives in the Bay Area & we plan to hook up next tme I visit my family (most likely May this year) and I'm looking forward to it!

Melissa Kaufman - Simply Pink. Melissa has a clean style to her cards that I love. She is a real sweetheart, leaving encouraging comments on my posts.

Pepperoni & Pineapple on thin crust *YUM*

yes - this is my favorite pizza! Thanks to an ex co-worker who had it delivered for lunch & shared a piece with me (I fell in love with the sweet/savory combo)

What Your Pizza Reveals

Your appetite is pretty average. You don't go overboard - but you don't deprive yourself either. You are a very picky pizza eater. Not any pizza will do. You fit in best in the Northeast part of the US. You like food that's traditional and well crafted. You aren't impressed with "gourmet" foods. You are dependable, loyal, and conservative with your choices. You are carefree and friendly. You should consider traveling to Hawaii. The stereotype that best fits you is geek. You're the type most likely to order pizza to avoid leaving your computer.

What Does Your Pizza Say About You?

What Kind of Nail Polish Are You!!??

this is so funny since my favorite color is Purple! HA

Your Nail Polish Color is Purple

How you're unique: You are artistic and expressive Why your style rocks: You pay special attention to color and fabrics What this color says about you: "I'm creative and know how to take care of myself"

What Color Nail Polish Best Fits You?

new Tag by Jeanne!!!

I was tagged to answer these questions with one word answers about me (No explanations…)
by Jeanne

Yourself: Thoughtful
Your Partner: Awesome
Your Hair: Natural
Your Mother: Memorable
Your Father: Wonderful
Your Favorite Item: Purses
Your Dream Last Night: Many
Your Favorite Drink: Coffee
Your Dream Car: Have
Dream Home: Building
The Room You Are In: cubicle
Your Fear: Crime
Where You Want to be in Ten Years: Cedar Creek
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: Friends
You’re Not: A real Texan
One of Your Wish List Items: Baby
The Last Thing You Did: Type
You Are Wearing: Clothes
Your Favorite Weather: Sunny
Your Favorite Book: Mirror
Last Thing You Ate: Mint
Your Life: Blessed
Your Mood: Sleepy
Your Best Friend: Lots
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Sleeping
Your Car: CR-V
What Are You Doing At The Moment: Typing
Relationship Status: Married
What Is On Your TV: N/A
What Is The Weather Like: Sunny
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: Yesterday

This is a new game of tag. Let me know your one word answers. You can link back here in the comments, so I can check them out! Here’s my list of people I am tagging:

Ashley
Charmaine
Deb
Kristine
Trish

Ashley wants to know - Do you have a life? Do I have a life?

Heck yea! Ashley saw a blog post on Michelle's blog that has a list of 239 movies & you can check next to the ones you've seen - if it totals 85 or more you don't have a life. I'd love to participate in this fun little activity - BUT I have to go watch a movie!

HA - seriously, I LOVE movies, so does my DH and it would take me much less time to take this list & mark the ones I HAVEN'T seen because it's just a FEW. If you'd like to see a list of my favorite movies - just check out my complete profile.

Beauty comes in all forms!

This was a fun questionnaire...there are so many quotes about beauty: it's in the eye of the beholder, beauty comes from within, etc. etc. Growing up as a chubby girl, I didn't always 'feel' like I was pretty although I was told I was somewhat often. I suffered from the teasing, name-calling, one time a fight with a boy that was caused by my weight. It caused me to do something about it several times over the years but comfortability & the love of good food does that in at times. I believe it's everyone's desire to be desired & made to feel special. I feel sorry for people who do not have someone to make them feel that way. My DH compliments me OFTEN, and it means a lot to me. I just need to do the same & I fall short most times.

I was so close with my dad unfortunately I only had him for 9 years when he died suddenly of a heart attack. But I remember he was the first man to make me feel special. I was named after him - his name was Donald. I was his baby - the one who came out looking just like the love of his life & I think that's one reason it was easy for him to make me feel special. My mom's name was Josephine & my dad affectionately called me Little Jo because I looked just like her. I began to think I needed to look like myself & not be associated with looking just like my mom...but over time I began to really take that compliment to heart. My mom was a BEAUTIFUL woman! She was loved, well-liked, generous, fun, a great mom, etc. She did a wonderful job raising 3 young girls on her own because she nver re-married. I was blessed to have her for 26 years but that was not long enough! I welcome the compliments of looking like her because it keeps her memory alive in me!

Society has a way of making little girls feel insecure & inadequate when they glorify the paper thin gals & that's all you see in the movies & in fashion magazines. It took me a while to realize that my beauty does not consist of just the body image; it's all about how you feel, being confident, finding the good things about yourself & playing them up. I remember meeting gals who were considered, "comfortable in their own skin" and I wanted to be one of those gals! Well, it wasn't until a few years ago that the curvy & voluptuous were given more attention with options of cuter clothing (such as Lane Bryant) and gals with meat on their bones were played up more! I love wearing MAC makeup but still find myself not taking the time (I wear makeup about once a week now, sometimes not at all) and remember a few years ago being at church & my pastor at the time (who is quite handsome & younger than me) used to say when he saw me, 'hello beautiful' there was a moment I got back into that insecure stage & remarked about not feeling like that because I wasn't wearing makeup. Why did that thought come up? Why did it take makeup to make me feel beautiful? Well, our conversation turned into a time when I was in high school & the owner of the company I worked for told me something that always stuck with me. When someone takes the time to compliment you, respond by saying thank you even if you don't think the statement is true. The most insulting is to dispute the remark to the person complimenting you. So I proceeded to relay that conversation to my pastor & apologized for the comment. Then he told me something that stuck with me & made me realize something. I didn't NEED the makeup or special clothes to be considered beautiful. He stated I had a Natural Beauty on the inside that made its way on the outside. Light Blub moment...I realized after that something I should have been believing for a long time...it's not what you see in the media that dictates true beauty. Being a Christian, I believe that God changes a person over time and I was a product of that! There was a time growing up I was pretty ugly with my attitude, comments, etc. and God slowly transformed that with peace, joy, fulfillment in my life. I must give credit to my wonderful DH too...he has ingrained in me that I don't need the makeup because he too believes I am a natural beauty. Sometimes it takes a while for certain people to believe something about themselves that is always there.

You Are a Natural Beauty!

You're the kind of beauty that every guy dreams about... One that looks good in the morning - without a stitch of makeup That's doesn't mean you're a total hippie chic though You have style, but for you, style is effortless

What Type of Beauty Are You?

I've been tagged!

I think it was 3 times, but I lost count because it happened before/during/after my vacation. We just got back LATE Sat. night & I'm playing hooky from work today - I should have gone back this morning but I was not physically or mentally ready because this was one of the most FUN & EXHAUSTING vacations ever! We went to Seattle & we walked or took public transportation everywhere! But walking was the majority! It was 10 blocks (several uphill) from Pike's Market to the condo we stayed at & we went there daily!!! We even got to the AMUSE store! Woohoo!! I'll post a pic of what I got there soon. Then we went to Monkey Love Stamp Store & spent MORE $$ (best thing was, it was OUR $ and not MINE!) HA!!! Anyway - I better do the tagging thing now...I was tagged by Leah Ashley and Kristine So now I have to tell 7 things about me

1. I grew up in San Leandro, CA (BAY AREA) and lived in the same house for 26 years

2. Then I met DH on-line (sorta) and got married after knowing one another in person just 8 days but 3 1/2 months long distance. Then I moved to TEXAS (we're celebrating 10 years July 6)

3. I moved 5 times in those 10 years and have one more move to go

4. We purchased 2 1/2 acres & we're going to build our dream home & that will be the LAST MOVE!!

5. I have a tattoo on my left ankle Faith, Hope, Love with a heart at the back. Corinthians 13:13 is my favorite Scripture in the Bible.

6. I MUST have coffee in the morning because I LOVE the way it tastes, smells & it helps me function

7. I ADORE ice cream! My mom told me she ate it every day during her pregnancy with me (Black Cherry) which ironically I do not like.

There's been so many tags, I am going to skip listing 7 people. But if you'd like to share a tidbit about yourself, I'd love to hear it! These have been fun to read - getting to know fellow stamping bloggers!!!

Your Star Wars Name And Title

Your Star Wars Name: Donba Cahay Your Star Wars Title: Rekcho of Nhoj

What Is Your Star Wars Name and Title?

If you love Star Wars - head on over to the link so you can check out what YOUR name & title are - how fun! I LOVE Star Wars movies! My BIL is a major Star Wars Nut - I picked him up some star Wars stuff at the Target #1 spot the other day, I know he'll get a kick out of it!!

I've been tagged!!!

I've been seeing these all over & just discovered that Deb tagged me!! I've been reading all the great tags & learning new blogs to add to my Google Reader! I now have 105 blogs I read updates on!! It's one of the highlights of my day!!

5 blogs I love to read & I don't think have been tagged yet are:

Rubbah' Thoughts & Creations by Teresa Otto
Ink Something! by Kristine Breach
The Stampin' Librarian - Nicole Cooke
Inky Paws - my awesome downline & friend Jeanne Streiff
I lie, cheat & CASE - Lauri

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Lauren!! Thanks

A - Available or Taken: Taken for almost 10 years

B - Best Friend: Male: My husband John, Female: Lori & Danielle

C -Cake or Pie: Cake but frankly like ALL sweets :)

D - Drink of Choice: Coffee in the morning! Diet Coke for lunch & water in between

E - Essential item you use everyday: Deodorant & back scratcher

F - Favorite Color: Purple

G - Gummy Bears or Worms: I'm not picky, I'd eat either

H - Hometown: San Leandro, CA (near Oakland/SF)

I - Indulgence: Halo Halo or Kheer

J - January or February: No preference, about the same to me

K - Kids & Names: 4-legged ones. Shelby (Border Collie mix), Chica & Elsie (cats)

L - Life is incomplete without: Faith, Family & Friends

M - Marriage Date: July 6, 1997

N - Number of Siblings: I have 2 older sisters, Val & Deana who live in San Leandro still

O - Oranges or Apples: I like them both

P - Phobias or Fears: Car accidents

Q - Fave Quote: "Be who you are and say what you feel, those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind!" -Dr. Seuss

R - Reason to Smile: Too many to name - I'm blessed

S - Season: Fall

T - Tag 3 or 4 People: Jan, Shamrock Stamper, Mama K , Nicole

U - Unknown fact about me: Well my friends know...but my stamping/blogging friends may not - I met my DH via the internet

V - Vegetable you don't like: Can't say there is one. I like them all, even Brussel Sprouts

W - Worst Habit: Denial

X - X-rays: Teeth, Lower back after being rear-ended Nov. 2005

Y - Your Fave Food: Hard to say just one...Indian food!

Z - Zodiac Sign: Gemini - curious, intellectual, quick-witted, talkative, friendly, and have superb communication skills. They are clear thinkers and have a love of information, able to process many incoming ideas and concepts in their search for the truth. While Geminis are able to handle many tasks at the same time, they often lack depth – jack-of-all-trades, master of none. (this is the truth!)