Home again!

We arrived safely back in VA in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I've been recovering ever since. We had a great trip to TX. I have a few observations about TX (at least the area that we were in). It is a beautiful state. I didn't find it as flat as I expected (after all, I am used to living in the mountains!!). The most surprising thing to me was how NICE everyone was. The Houston area is huge, so I expected it to be impersonal like other large city areas that I have visited. But everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. The traffic was outrageously busy all the time, however people are willing to let you in when you've ended up in the wrong lane. I cannot think of one incident of unkindness while we were there. So here is a big Texas-sized THANK YOU to all of you Texans!!! We really enjoyed your state. Come on over and visit the mountains of VA sometime---we'd love to have you!

I took some pics on the flight home. It is always so cool to fly above the clouds. Here's a shot out of my airplane window...

Of course, when I got home, I wanted to spend some quality time with my stamps. I had gotten an order while I was gone (my preorder of stamp sets coming in the Spring/Summer catalog---you are going to LOVE this catalog!!!). But I had to attend to more pressing matters like going to the grocery store first. I had a couple of ladies come over last night for some stamping though. We had a great time. Here are the beautiful frames that we created---as a group really.

Remember that I am offering a special on Stampin' Up!'s retiring stamp sets. Go here to see my special and contact me by December 29th with your order!! Now, I'm off to assemble some of my new rubber stamps so I can start playing with them. Watch for pictures coming to my blog soon....

Leaving TX today

Well, it has been a fun trip, but today is the day that we begin our trip home. I say "begin" because the weather people are calling for ice today/tonight between the airport in Charlotte and home. I guess if the roads are icy, we will wait until tomorrow for the final leg of our journey.

One of the main things that I really enjoyed while in TX was seeing my oldest brother, Allen. Here is a picture of us together in the Hilton hotel in front of their beautiful Christmas tree.

Yesterday was our trip to Galveston. I was only disappointed with the fact that we didn't have more time to spend there. We went to the Moody Gardens which was awesome!!! There are 3 pyramids---one is an aquarium, one is a rainforest habitat, and the other a science center. Here's a picture of the outside of the aquarium. We saw so many beautiful things. I really love the macaws. My favorite are the hyacinth macaws (blue ones), but the picture of the scarlet macaws turned out really well.

I have so many more pictures, but I won't bore you all with them now. I have had a wonderful break from the "real" world over these last 10 days. I am looking forward to getting home though. I really need to finish my Christmas shopping and wrapping. Also need to do some baking---yum! And I'm ready to do some stamping, too. Only 10 more days until Jesus' birthday!!! Enjoy each moment and remember to take lots of pictures! I need to get back to scrapbooking this coming year. Want to come over and scrapbook with me?

Here's some stamping....

I realize that most of you are checking out my website to see some stamping, not just my trip to TX. So, I searched thru my pics and found a project that I had not shared with you yet. Here is my PHOTO WALLET.....

I used Stampin' Up!s 12"x12" textured cardstock in Basic Gray. I love the textured CS, have you tried it yet? Inside I used the Naturals White CS. My tabs (made with the Round Tab Punch) are done in Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, and Certainly Celery CS. Those are the colors of ink that I used, too. I also used the Spiral Punch for my inside white pages. I love, love, love that punch. So easy to use and such a cool effect. Want to see how it works? Just ask me and I'll show you! The main stamp set that I used is called BE HAPPY (found on pg 51 of the Fall/Winter catalog). I also used the WARM WORDS set for the little "adorable" word on the tag on the front. The middle of the flower on the front is one of SU!s circle rhinestone brads.

I don't have my dimensions with me here in TX, but I just played around until I found a size that worked. :0) The belly band is made of Night of Navy CS and then I stamped the flower and tag on naturals white CS and just cut them out. I used the brad to hold the belly band, flower and tag together. I did not have time to fill this little book with pictures yet, but maybe I can do that when I get home. I have lots of pictures from this trip. I plan to do one section for each of my 3 girls, then I will write their name on the tab for their section. I'll try to remember to take and post pictures again once I get that done.

Have a great day! We are headed out to Galveston in a few minutes. I'll probably take more pictures. Remember to take time during this busy season for some relaxation while stamping!!! Happy Stamping!

Remember the Alamo!

Here are a couple of pictures of the Alamo in San Antonio, TX. We went and watched the IMAX film about the Alamo before going to the actual site. Thanks for recommending that, Logan. It is the best way to do it if you historically challenged like I am!!! It was a beautiful area, right in the middle of the city.

The next day, we were off to the San Antonio Zoo. It was a really nice zoo. We enjoyed lots of unusual animals. Above are pictures of the Grizzly Bear who was really just a performer. He was actually posing for pictures! Then the other picture is of a fossa. Have you ever heard of one of those before? If you have watched the movie Madagascar then you have heard of one. That is the animal that was after the lemurs. The lemurs thought that the animals from NY (ie, the New York Giants!) could protect them from the fossa. These are very strange animals. The face is very cat like, but the body is odd and the tail is very, very long. We also saw a capybara (I think that I spelled that correctly). They are the largest member of the rodent family. I couldn't get a picture because my camera battery died, however just imagine a rat the size of a pig and you're picturing the capybara!!! Yuck! Thankfully, they live in South America so they won't be coming into my home looking for food. :0)

Well, that is my update for now. We are back in Houston now and will probably head out to Galveston tomorrow for the day. I hope you are all having a wonderful day and getting your Christmas gifts purchased and wrapped. Could anyone purchase and wrap mine for me while I am away?!? Blessings to you!

Our hotel

We are staying at the Hilton in downtown Houston. It is a really nice hotel. The girls are participating in a national chess tournament and this happens to be the hotel that is hosting the event. That's why we are here. :0) So here are some pictures of the lobby...... This is the chandelier in the main lobby. It is huge and really quite ugly in my opinion!!! My 9 year old thinks that it is beautiful though. All of those squiggly things are hand blown glass bulbs. Really a lot of work. And directly underneath it is this beauty.....

This scene is done all in CHOCOLATE!!!! Can you believe it? It is so beautiful. (Abby and I agree on this one!) I just love the Raggedy Ann and Andy so much. The penquins are quite cute, too.

Well, I need to run. We went to the Johnson Space Center yesterday. I'll add a couple of those pics soon. Hope you are having a wonderful December. Christmas is just around the corner!!

We're in Houston, TX

Just a quick note to say that we arrived safely in Houston, TX today. I was trying to check out the blog and I've noticed that for some reason the first post on the page doesn't always show up right away. I usually try clicking in the blank area or just scrolling down and back up and then it appears for me. Hope this works for you. I think that the Christmas tree on the side might be messing things up, but it will only be there for 20 more days!!! Can you believe there are only 20 more days until Christmas?!?

Happy Stamping!!! I'll try to take some pics of TX to add to the blog.

What stamp sets are retiring????

Stampin' Up! now has 2 catalogs each year. The Fall/Winter Collection Catalog is current through the end of December 2007. Just announced on December 1st is the list of stamp sets that will be retired after the Fall/Winter catalog---so you can ONLY get these sets between now and the end of this month!!!

Check out the LIST OF RETIRING SETS HERE!!!! Next, check out MY SPECIAL HERE. Then contact me with your stamping order.

Happy Stamping!!!