some more!

5 more!!

yep, more photos!~

more photos!!!!!!!!!!!

yeppers........more photos of the holidays!!!!!!!

merry christmas and happy next year!

can you believe it.....i'm posting on my blog!!!! november turned out to be a very difficult time for me.....and december just flew by!

i have finished all my gifts.....yep....just finished the last of them today......and it's a few days after the BIG day!!!! would love to post a photo.....however i still have to deliver some 10 of these....and don't want to give it away! hope everyone enjoys their goodies!

christmas eve was fun....rex and i hit the mall early......just to pick up a few bargains......and watch the crazed men that waited until the last day! some of them are down right pitiful!!! i think i saw one buying a CHIA pet!!!! damn.....i would throw that at mr butt if he gifted me with that!!! we made cookies......wrapped gifts.......napped.......and had a quiet evening! nothing at all like the ones when we first got married.....or when erin was young. we would always spend the evening at my parents with all the other siblings, their spouses and children! at one point we had upwards of 25 people in their home! food.....voices rising to be heard.....mom getting ticked off because someone is late......her standing at the door, handing out paper plates as the late ones arrived! some wild and wacky memories......just wish i had more photos of those times!

christmas morning was fun.......i had asked santa for 2 things....an iphone and a flip video! well....santa became a little befuddled with the iphone and setting up a new service.......so after a couple of hours of cajoling (that morning!) he finally printed off a photo of an iphone and gave that to me stating i could pick one out the next day...(actually saturday since he had to work at his real job.....then play at the barn that evening!) so......a new iphone lives at my home! and my flip video is sooooo damn much fun! course the only videos i have been able to get are of the puppies.....miss lucy loves to entertain for us! erin just won't participate any longer.....rex did get a little snippet of erin, mike (the son-in-law) and me playing smarty pants on mike's wii!!! that was so damn much fun.....course my shoulder hurt afterwards from pulling too hard at tug-o-war!!! i also got some wonderful perfume....trish mcelvoy #9.....smells divine!

the extra bargains that we purchased on christmas eve turned out to be the same thing for each other!!! i purchased a pair of ugg slippers for rex and he bought me some ugg slides! they are soooooo damn warm and comfy!! too bad those weren't on sale!

i also found a fun little pink tree.....wanted to add it to the tree forest.....however mr. butt wasn't too cooperative in that arena.....so the little pink tree sat alone.......until i added the children's' gifts under it......then it looked beautiful.!!!

i almost forgot about the excitement.....the small oven fire!!!! erin loves sweet potatoes smothered with melted marshmallows.......needless to say her dad (and I ) try to accommodate her.....sooooooo slide in the dish with the added mallows.....and wait for the chaos to ensue! it only took a couple of minutes to notice that they had spilled over onto the bottom of the oven.....then the BLACK smoke started to billow out.....i grabbed the fire extinguisher while rex started pulling out burning marshmallows.......what a disaster!!! the fire alarms started going off......mike tried to disconnect one.......then discovered they are electric.....so fanning with new jeans (first item to grab) began vigorously!...soon the smoke had dissipated and dinner began! oh what fun it is to .........cook......burn.......ride!!!!!

comet or lucy is scratching at the door.......she is just like a 3 yr old.......in & out....in & out.....IN & OUT........and she whines........it's the highest pitch whine EVER!!!!!

enjoy some photos from the holiday......and Happy NEXT Year!!!

i DO love my life!!!

sadness

wow.....driving home from work today the sadness was overwhelming..........also i feel soooo damn naive...........i really thought yesterday was all about qualification, morals, values, ability.........NOT RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! however i found out i was wrong!!!!!! and i'm sad........
i am NOT a racist............and i voted for the man i think can do the best job to bring this country back to greatness.........however when i hear people talking about "the first african-american" it makes me sad........can't this just be about his abilities......not the color of his skin.......... i'm just sad.........

enough said.

Clear Scraps Acrylic ROCKS!!!

hello there, blogland!!!! trying to keep up with my blog.......some days it just seems like there are only 2 hours in the day......while others seem to have a total of 24 hours! work is never the same start time each day.......and i never work the same amount of time......so i just can't get into a routine schedule...........oh well..........not going to bitch about it.........i still DON'T have to work weekends, holidays or take call like i used to!

okay......i finished my album earlier this week......did a fun little layout last night........and then made a cute little christmas card while playing with the the trick or treaters and giving out candy!

the christmas card was made using the plain 12x12 clear scraps acrylic......i cut it to 4"x5" to fit a standard card! using the new cuttlebug embossing folder "Lace Tree", i inked the "debossed" side of the folder with Black Cherry Staz On ink.....then carefully placed the acrylic onto the surface and ran it SLOWLY through my Sizzix Big Kick! i then opened the folder and gingerly removed the ClearScraps Acrylic (to prevent any smearing of the ink!)

Using the new Helmar Gemstone Glue sent to me from Tracy W. from our design team (thanks Tracy............check out her blog and the Helmar Design Team opportunity!) i attached pointsetta colored gems from The Robin's Nest to the front side sparingly. Next i cut Bazzill Diamond Bling Cardstock ( i had NO white American Craft Cardstock...:( to size and attached the ClearScraps Acrylic with brads. using a craft knife i made small slits at the bottom where the tree trunk would be and threaded a red ribbon through and tied a small bow......trying to emulate jackie, i impaled myself with said craft knife......howled for attention and since mr. butt was busy with the children needing candy i got NO attention........so i just went on about my business!!!.. Now...i couldn't find any red brads......what with answering the door to hand out candy to those little greedy children.........just kidding!!!......and running downstairs into the old studio looking for some red ones.........i just used gold ones that i covered with VersaMark from Tsukineko and then added Whispers Crimson Red Embossing Powder and heated until nice and glossy! i punched holes into each corner with my crop-a-dile and inserted the brads to anchor it down!!!

once this was done i attached this piece to red cardstock cut the size of a standard card! i think this design may be the one i use for all my christmas cards!

okay...........the lights are out and there is a substantial amount of candy left!!!!!! thank heaven most of it is chocolate.....so i won't be eating that! i stopped on my way home from work and bought a really fun coat for winter.......(it's really cute since i removed the faux fur collar!).....i also tried on a couple of holiday dresses............which fit soooo poorly!!!!!!!!! i really have to drop a couple of lbs...............and i just don't want to give up all the CRAP that i eat.......or work out on a regular basis...............course that is the only way it's gonna happen! wish me luck!!!!!!!!

okay......i love my life.........and i still have to pack up some stuff to take and work on while at a crop with toots and the girls!!!!!!!! my toes and ankles are swollen again.......so i called toots and i'm going to bed now.....and will pack my bag in the am............she's soooo agreeable and is willing to wait for me!!!

loving the design team!

i am just loving being on the CLEAR SCRAPS design team!   i had such fun making the wedding album from erin & mike's ceremony!   the photos are stunning and the acrylic makes things look great!   just wish i could post the photos of the book!  it will have to wait a few days!

spent the weekend with michele, linda, cathi, barb, becky, nancy and gwen!  also some other friends!!!!   we stayed up way tooooo late and played with paper, glue (and ACRYLIC!!!)   and we got lots accomplished!!!  we were also given a MakingMemories Slice die cutter.........FREE!!!!!   can you imagine that!.....and they offered all the accessories for 20%off.......sooooo i just had to buy the SPELLBOUND  cartridge.......the font is really cool....and it has some cool looking clip art........crowns, crows, bats, skulls.....etc!!!  i also ordered the carrying bag.......after mr. butt said it wouldn't be a good idea.........hate it when he tells me NOT to do something......especially  since i work 3 jobs........guess i can afford it! 

lucy came over on sunday evening......she played with comet and apollo........well.....she tried to play with comet.....he is just not one for playing with her.....however apollo just loves to play with lucy!!!    erin & mike were here also.....they had dinner.....then mike and rex worked on the layout of their bathroom!!!   they hope to gut the room.....add some space and redo the room!   it's pretty tiny now.......and very retro! (and not in a good way!......i like it however the kids aren't tooooo fond of 50's style tile!....

okay.....well.....better get off to bed......have a long day ahead of me!   i love my life.......want to play with some more acrylic!!!    have a few ideas up my sleeve!!!!

bad blogger.......still working on healthly living!

yep..........bad blogger!!! since i last blogged......let's see.......i worked non-stop for 2 days............had my legs and feet swell to the point i thought they may burst.......went to the doctor for said swelling.....started some old people meds.....swelling subsided........went to kansas city with linda and michele..........spent way to much flipping money on stuff i just don't need........came home sick.....(seems to happen each and every time i go away for a weekend).....

also......got the coolest dolce & gabbana bag from catherine......lime green leather,of course!!! and a really cool postcard from the great wall of china! she hinted there may be another trip next year...............if i can swing it....i'm there!!!!!!!!!!! course, i 'm NOT eating any bugs like cfe did........she's just whacked out!

okay.......i also received the biggest and coolest box of deliciousness (is that a word.....where is my english teacher daughter when i need her?)......anyway.....it has some of the most wonderful things inside.......and i need to get busy............course this sickly crap keeps hanging on! perhaps this week i can shake it completely......................and then i leave for a weekend with linda and michele again................so IF i come home on sunday sick......well....let's just say it could be the last for awhile!

mr. butt should be home soon...........then dinner and off to bed..............gotta face another week of fun and games!

i love my life!!!!!!!!!!!!

it's a SAD day in muddville

does anyone remember that story?????????? or am i just soooo damn old that i do remember it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyway..........it's been storming here since 7'ish this am......comet woke me with his incessant barking at the thunder..............and it's extremely muddy...........so the pool boys come......(fyi......hire your own pool boys.........the ones they send from the pool company are VERY hard of the eyes.............!!!!!!!! way too much beer...............too much recreational drugs......etc) anyway........they blew the pipes clear and put on the winter cover...............it's very, very sad................

does anyone feel sad for me??????????? by the way.......that would be comet in the upper left of the photo.............apollo was ducking for cover........he doesn't like to be wet!! he's very delicate......just like me!!!!!!!!! we are both like jasmine's...........very, very delicate!!!!!!

okay..........gotta shower before i'm off for the haircut............hope tom leaves some blonde on!!!!!!

i love my life!!!

waiting for my dt stuff...............loving the cooler weather

i can't actually believe i posted that.............i LOVE summer and the heat........however the pool water is sooooo damn cold i am just ready for cooler weather and fun new clothes!!!!!!!!

i found myself a new jEAN jacKet yesterday....(remember.......i lost mine while wasting time at Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix, Arizona!!)) ........went shopping with miss stinky mcgee......perhaps that would be mrs. stinky fluchel.........anyway......bought a jacket at express......then found another at gap..........bought them both.......rex and erin liked the one from gap best............so guess i'll be returning the other one!!!! no worries............perhaps i can find myself a pair a jeans instead!!!!!!!!! now......don't anyone tell mr. butt........he thinks 5 pairs of jeans are plenty for anyone!!!!!!!!!! NOT!!!!!!!!

waiting until the box of goodies arrives from Clear Scraps............kinda excited to get started playing with it..............making stuff.............i just wish i had someone to come and clean up all the other crap in this studio.............what a flippin mess!!!!!!!!!! i have had the last 3 days off........haven't gotten a thing done...........and still have tomorrow off!!!!!!!! damn.........in the olden days i would have worked from sun-up to sun-down trying to get things done........that's what age does to you..................if it gets done......GREAT............if not...........GREAT............i will not kill myself anymore for a clean/scoured home................it just doesn't make sense!!


mr. butt & i went to at&t yesterday to switch up our phones...........we have the lamest phones ever..........you can be sitting right next to them and still not hear them ring!!!!!!! well......after looking at jilly's and DOCTOR mikes' (and i say that with the utmost respect.............YEAH!!( anyway.........i have decided i would really like an iPhone...............soooooo after 1 hour of rex deciding which phone he would like....(not the iPhone) we decide to run home for the current phone contract....(att needed the info) and we find out that the contract isn't up until NOV. 29...................aaaaaaacccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkk...........can you say CRAP!!!!!!!!! everyone who knows me knows i don't like to wait............however i will!!!!!!!!! who knows.........i may even change my mind!!!

trying to convince some other girls to join us at ScrapSt. Louis...........yes, CRICKET.......i'm speaking directly to you!!!!!!!!!!!! i think it will be a great time.............fun will be had by all............soooooo if anyone is thinking about it......come on down!!!!!!!

okay.......mr.butt should be home from the barn soon...............mozzarella caprese' for supper!!!!!!!!! can you say YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

i love my life................................still would love someone to come help with organizing!!!!!!!!!

guess what............i got selected!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeppers.........you read that correctly!!!!!!!!!! i was selected to be on the ClearScraps design team!!!!!!!!!!!! how cool is that!!!!!!!!! i love their products.............love to play with their word books....and also all the cool embellishments...........and i am learning some really cool things that can be done with their products!!!!!!! stay tuned for more information!!!!!!!!

same bat time
same bat channel!!!!!!!

i was even able to figure out how to add all their blogs to my blog...........check them out for some really cool inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...thanks cathy and the other dt girls that helped me!! kiss,kiss
wowsers...................i LOVE my life!!!!!!

oh......course now they want me to shop............send them a cute photo and send them information about myself! guess there goes the federal protection program!!!!!!!!!! perhaps i can find a photo of someone really cute........think anyone will notice??? of course someone will notice!!!!!!!!!

okay.........i have totally slacked all day......(i know....what's new......smart ass!!!) anyway......qvc hasn't had anything to offer..........so no money going off for crap i really don't need............

ohhhhhhhh........one redeeming thing........i did do some laundry!!!!!!!!!! yeppers.......washed.......tossed into the dryer...........well............i STARTED some laundry..........there is still time to fold and put in it's proper place before mr. butt arrives home from work!

love my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

exciting news.............that i CAN'T SHARE!

oh..........i have some very exciting news........anyway it's exciting for me.......and i can't share it!!!! what a pooper!!!!!!!

life around here is pretty routine.........off to work............then home again......feeling much better..........not quite sure what the heck was up............still have insomnia and i don't think that was it...........however something kicked butt!!!!!!!!!

stopped over at the newlyweds home yesterday........miss lucy is just one big ball of spitfire.......she wore me out just watching...............while i waited for her to use the entire backyard as her toilet, i got eaten by at least 6000 mosquitoes...........they dined on my tender ankles and arms.............then i had to drench myself in benadryl cream......followed shortly thereafter with cortisone 10 spray.............i hate ITCHING!!!!!!!!!!! thank heavens these must have been toddler mosquitoes since the welps weren't large and the itching subsided quickly!!!!!!

i think i may send the book i did of lucy .....her royal highness off to a magazine...........even perhaps an online one...........just to see what would happen!

well.............super early day tomorrow at the center..........OOOHHHH>>>>>>tonight we shot a commercial for the next lt governor of missouri.........sam page, md!!!!!!!!!! i used to work with sam at st. john's...........he is an anesthesiologist......and now is into politics....soooooo we will see!!!!!

anyway..........still love my life................going cropping tomorrow at the store.........hope to get something accomplished!!!!!!!!

oh..........if anyone knows where i stuck my flash drive.........give me a call on my cell!!!!!!!

being ill sucks

yep.....still sick........not quite sure what's up...........no fever.....just chills and aches. went to work today.........just can't stay home and use up holiday pay!

still holding out hope of finding my lost jean jacket! lost it in phoenix.....between the car rental place and the hugh sky harbor airport..........i really loved that jacket.......and the fun buttons on it! especially the one from mary mitchell....."queen of the whole damn world!"........if anyone spots it................send it home to me!!!

hope everyone is well...............erin seems to be doing well with her second year at parkway west............has good students.............
lucy is doing well..............still having a few accidents...........however she is just a bitty girl.......and i still love her!!!!!!!!!!! michael is also doing well.........working hard as usual!

rex is still playing at the barn............usually just one evening or a sunday afternoon per week.........seems they are pretty slow............hopefully things will pick up for the holidays........otherwise the store may close! would hate that.............i think rex enjoys going in there..........it's not hard work........sometimes a little dusty.............however he seems to like it!

i like my other job..............only working here and there..........the money is good......and it pays for all of my little trips.........can't beat that..............love that i can earn the money to pay for these things without dipping into the money for housing and other things!!

well.............starting to fade...........was hoping to stay awake longer than 8pm tonight...........looks like 915pm is it!!!!!!!!!!!

i still love my wonderful life!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

even more photos!

more photos!!!