Simply Sudie

Last, Last, Last

I remember when I was a senior in high school.  Cheryl, Angela, and I would say, "this is the LAST..." football game.  dance.  exam.  whatever.

Many years later, I still do this.

Today.  Today is the last full day of school for the girls.  Before the holiday.  Of 2009.  

But today.  Today is the first day of opportunities.  It is my job to be ready to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.  I am poised for success.

Speaking of success, I am so pleased to share with you a new opportunity to serve.   Beginning in 2010, I will be working with the non-profit organization YES!Carolina.   

Through entrepreneurship education, YEScarolina helps young people build skills and unlock their entrepreneurial creativity.  

For now, I look forward to what the day may bring.  and think of it not as the "last"  but as the "first" of a new adventure.

5 Things on My "Don't" List

It seems everyone is blogging about their to do list.   It almost seems that busyness (sic) is a competitive sport this time of year. 

I thought I would share with you what is on my To Don't List.

Sudie's To Don't List

• Go to the mall.   You must be crazy!
• Sing Carols (to anyone)  Mostly because I could not carry a tune in a silver bucket.
• Go to hairdressers to get my hair done Poor stylists are burning the midnight oil.  No telling how long I will have to wait, or if they are tired will chop off my bangs or something.  I will wait until after the 25th, thanks.
• Decorate cookies.  My cookies never last long enough to enjoy their decorations.  I figure I save a good 20 hours here.
• Add things to my to do list. A big no-no.  This is the hardest of all, for me.  I always think of one more thing to buy.  One more gift to make.  One more Christmas card to send.   Being a big list maker, I just put in on Christmas 2010's list.  I figure if it is that great of an idea, it will keep until next year.

Thanks

for continuing to drop by.  

Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

 

The Year Of The Tree

Grateful to be included in Debby's Christmas 12 Days of Home for the Holidays. 

Day 12 

Another Day, Another Recital

 Audrey is quite a talented ballerina, humbly says her proud mama.

Today wraps up our next to the last holiday performance for the kids.

We just have a chorus performance for Maria.

The big question is "will my camera make it?"

I am going for a world record for number of photos taken at any event.  Thank goodness for digital.

Oops.  Audrey has the Nutcracker Ballet too.

 

What I Did

This Christmas.

Listened to a brilliant young pianist perform her Christmas recital.  Bravo!

Watched visions of Sugar Plums dance.  Sweet.

 

had a little snack.

Visited a friend. 

If you ever even possibly thought of watching unKit Live! scrapbooking show...

tonight is your night.



Join us for live interactive chat. So much fun.

http://www.livestream.com/jumpcreate

no media player
no lengthy registration
Just fun.

Hope you will join us.

If you ever even possibly thought of watching unKit Live! scrapbooking show...

tonight is your night.



Join us for live interactive chat. So much fun.

http://www.livestream.com/jumpcreate

no media player
no lengthy registration
Just fun.

Hope you will join us.

The Good and The Bad. And The Ugly.

Life is full of Good things.  and Bad things.  

People are always talking about a glass with some milk, water or juice in it.   Is it half full or is it half empty?  The mathematician in me says it measures the exact same quantity whatever label you choose.  I believe the point is that there is good and bad in every circumstance depending on your perspective. 

 

Today, for instance, there is good and bad.  Despite the early hour, our family has experienced both.

Let's lead this blog post with the good.

I woke up.

It beats the alternative.  (I'm guessing.)

Now on with the bad.  

Maria's beloved Beta fish died.  Maria and I loved that silly fish.

Someone (Davey) left the freezer door open all night long.  So everything that was in the freezer is now in the trash.  

• Cookie dough that was for tonight's cookie decorating party.  
• Christmas Eve dinner.  
• A head start on Christmas breakfast.  
• Some sides for upcoming Christmas parties and dinner at the in-laws.  
• All of the allergy-free birthday cupcakes for Audrey so that when she is invited to a party, we can be free and breezy to attend.  
• An extra pineapple bake in case of a friend in need.  You never know when someone will need one.
• The pie crust of 1999 that I keep meaning to use for a pecan pie.
• Freezer burnt fruit cake from my mil from last year.  Or maybe the year before.  Or maybe all of them since we have been married.  It is hard to remember these things.
• Time spent preparing all of these delicacies.

Apparently, the fridge operates from the freezer.  So now all of that is in the trash as well.  

We keep the refrigerator on a need to know basis.   With Grocery day on Mondays, we were operating at low levels anyway.

So if I were one of those sunny people looking for good in all this, I would have to say...

 Thanks, honey, for taking me out to lunch today.   

and to my family, I am so sorry that I acted all ugly this morning.  I let that silly old freezer get the better of me.   Group hug!   

Hello, Monday!

Happy Monday! I love the smell of a fresh new week in the morning!

But, alas, not all members of my family are fellow Monday-huggers. No. It's true.

For instance, Audrey. First whine of the week, "whatever we are having for breakfast, I do NOT want it." Seriously? How do you respond to that? As a mother, it is my utmost duty to ignore any and all whining. My motherly ears are unable to process that particular frequency.

Then, there is the fabulous Maria, notorious morning hater. She had the pleasure of a new wardrobe. Wouldn't that make most people happy? Well, not this five year old. She has apparently bonded with her size 3 pants in ways I did not even know was possible. She has finally grown! and I am glad. When she put on her new pants this morning, she grumbled, ""Mama these pants don't fit. there is no gap at my ankles. They like to be breezy. They need to breathe, you know." No, I don't know.

As I hugged them as they ran out the door, Audrey accused me of trying to knock her over. oy!

Do you see why I love Mondays? Because now I have the home all to myself. And the weekly blessing of the mess begins. My first plan of attack, Mt. Rushmore.

Wishing you a blessed Monday!

Thanks For Giving

a little bit of yourself to me. 

I hope your Thanksgiving was good.  We had awesome biscuits and dressing.  Yum!  enjoyed hanging with the coolest family ever.  And getting puppy kisses and cuddles all day long.  Heaven!

Davey experienced his first ever Black Friday sales.   At 4am I thought it was his last.  But he loosened up, and actually had fun.  We were team Alexander.   In. Out. Home.  Nap.  Good times.

Getting cranking on crafting at Jump Create and unKit.  Monday night's unKit Live is on making ornaments.  Fun!

I am considering an opportunity that has recently been offered to me.  It would start the first of January. 

Prayers appreciated for my family right now.  Thanks.

5 Favorite Holiday Activities

5 Favorite Holiday Activities to do with Your Kids
1. Play Wii
2. Create with salt dough
3. Make cards for shut ins
4. Nature walk
5. Bake and decorate cookies

http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/share-your-favorite-holiday?x=1&id=2291408:Topic:1240798&page=2#comments

this is part of the Dora Christmas Carol contest

5 Favorite Holiday Activities to do with Your Kids

1. Play Wii

2. Create with salt dough

3. Make cards for shut ins

4. Nature walk

5. Bake and decorate cookies

Slick

I struggle with technology.  So when I figure something out, I am full of pride. 

I found out how to record a video that shows your computer screen.  So I made a super quick and easy video for unKit that shows how easy it is to order.

I won't mention how long it took me to figure it out.  The important part is that I did.

Sudie 1.  Technology 0.

Holiday unKit <== here is the video, if you wanted to take a peek.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend. 

Today is the Thanksgiving day feast with a bunch of Kindergarteners. Pilgrims, Indians, and parents will gather for goldfish, juice boxes, and turkey. This is the stuff that mommyhood is made of.



And I just love this stuff. My last kindergartener to participate. sigh. They are growing up too fast.

Hello World!

I feel like I am finally back to the land of the living.

Accounting deadlines are quiet for a while.  No big business consulting clients for now.

All the kids are well and back in school, finally.

Websites for Jump Create and unKit are finished, finally.  Well, mostly.

Hopefully, other than housework and shopping for the holidays, things are on maintainence only.  Hopefully.

Maria was our last sick chick to fly the coop.  She was so excited to be back to school that she ran around in circles in the front yard before climbing into the backseat of the station wagon.  Her big fear about returning was that the kids would have missed her so much that she is going to get bum rushed when she walks into the classroom.  She wore shorts under her dress just in case.  Although Audrey and I are not sure what "just in Case" means.  Silly little bunny rabbit.

Katie and Audrey are working hard on her part of the Nutcracker with the Russian Ballet.   So proud of them.

So what is going on with you?

I am seriously thinking of teaching a class or two.  I really miss teaching.  I mostly miss my friends and students.  Send me an email so that we can catch up. 

Blessings to you and your family.

Recommended Reading

Some favorites that include the classics and all the latest in Scrapbooking

Don't miss the "hot deals" that include fantastic finds.

Just click the image above to see the complete list.

Can You Keep A Secret? Shhhh~

Download VID00130

Three

is the lucky number per random.org. 

so, our winner is Kimberlee Patton!  Yeah, Kimberlee.

We want to see what you create with your new Webster's Pages.  A big thanks to those who participated.

Scrapbooking Challenged

I'll admit it.  I am totally addicted to challenge blogs.  These blogs push me creatively, and I keep coming back for more.

The super fabulous Angie Pederson pointed out this great local scrapbook store's list of challenge blogs.

Check them out.  Maybe you will get the urge to scrapbook.   Scrapbook Page Blog

Thanks, Angie 

June's unKit

For more information, see unKit blog bloggity blog

Status

Out for delivery.    

I just love technology.  The fact that my scrapbooking parcel is circling my town makes me happy.

I need to prepare for its arrival by clearing a spot for it on my workspace.   Off to organize.

Happy scrapbooking!

*editted to add*

It's here~!

See what came in  YouTube of contents

Last Day of May

Even though today is the last day of May, we have one more official week of May craziness.  Then, school is out and all school-year extra events are over.  We can focus on swim team and the beach.

I cannot wait.  I have impatiently been waiting for summer.

Tonight I found Meemee sobbing in her bed.  She said she did not know what was happening tomorrow with no school.  The uncertainty of tomorrow was too much for my tired little one.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring.  But together, we will figure it out.  Most certainly it will involve laundry.

Giveaway!

so, I hear you want a giveaway.  and it is a good one!

I always try to give away something that I am dying for. 

Webster's Pages is one of my favorite lines.  and this is to die for.    there are 18 exquisite vellum cards to enjoy.

These match this month's unKit.    June's unKit

So to enter to win, just comment what is your favorite manufacturer and your e-mail address.  Sorry, this one is domestic only.  No international shipping.

If you want to link unKit in your blog, please do.

Too much!

I had way too much fun this weekend.  Just recovered from all the fun.

I enjoyed meeting fellow Fiskateers.   Such a nice group of gals. Video of singing and dancing!   Sondra and Steph song  

Don't forget to load your pictures here

Did way too much shopping.  Tons of ribbon, new Fiskars punches, butterfly templates (yeah!!), flower soft, Copic pens, and so much more.

Drooling over Webster's Pages Cherry Pie, Anna G's Darcy, the new My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey Bling.  All summer goodness.

Who wants to have a giveaway this week?  Raise your hand.