Goodbye, Old Friends!

The Control Freaks are at it again!!! We're coming close to the release of the new Stampin' Up Catalog ... so we all decided to play with some of our favorite RETIRING sets/supplies ... they will be gone in two weeks' time, so you better jump on them if they are on your "wish list" Did you see what Melissa Davies made??? Her creations are ALWAYS wonderful!

Citrus ... yep! I'm a California Girl at heart (born and raised in the Bay Area!)! We had oranges and tangerines growing right outside our back door ... and my neighbors had lemons! Oh how I took for granted how fortunate I was to have them in my yard!! What I wouldn't give for an orange or grapefruit tree in my yard NOW (but Utah winters will NOT allow that!)!! So the "Lemon Zest" stamp set is REALLY going to be missed by me!! Which is why I chose to showcase it this month!

Stamps: Lemon Zest
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Whisper White Craft, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody
Accessories: Petal Pair Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (which is ALSO retiring!), Pretty Label Punch, Granny Apple Green Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Wink of Stella

This color combo is just SO striking and fun ... and I LOVE the Granny Apple Green Grosgrain Ribbon (which is ALSO retiring!). Add to that the retiring Tropical Escape DSP ... I am going to miss having these in the catalog, aren't you??

Stamps: Lemon Zest
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Tropical Escape DSP
Ink: Whisper White Craft, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody
Accessories: Petal Pair Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (which is ALSO retiring!), Pretty Label Punch, Granny Apple Green Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Wink of Stella, Stitched Rectangle Dies

Next up???  ... the delightful Dawn Olchefske!! Check it out!!

Fab Friday #163

I have to laugh at myself ... again ... which is becoming all too common for me any more!! I made this card last night, took a photo of it, edited the photo, started typing my blog post and then ... I fell asleep!!! With my laptop in my bed right next to my head!!! Didn't even realize I didn't start OR finish until this morning!! I really must have needed the sleep!!! So it's going to be a Fab Friday anyway, right????

I mixed some of the "outgoing" with the "incoming" (I used the Best Route DSP, which I am going to be sad to say goodbye to!) and the "A Good Man" stamp set ... which will be available to all-y'all in June!! YAY!!! How EXCITING IS THAT???

Stamps: A Good Man
Paper: Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight, Watercolor, Best Route DSP
Ink: Black Memento, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Pool Party, Ivory, Granite Gray
Accessories: Trio Corner Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Impressions Embossing Folder, 3/8" Crumb Cake Classic Weave Ribbon, Night of Navy/Sahara Sand Baker's Twine

I like this sketch surprisingly MORE than I thought I would!! I will DEFINITELY be using it again!










Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

Tomorrow morning is our LAST training run as a team (Huntsman Heroes!) before we head up to Ogden next weekend before the half/full marathon events!! I am soooo excited for this one! I feel ready ... which is a good thing! Just hoping that the weather cooperates because the course is BEAUTIFUL!!! Happy Mother's Day!!

Monday Montage #138

Not gonna lie ... I am SOOOOO sore today!!! We did an 8-mile training run yesterday, four miles of which were very DOWNhill!!! Then, I went with one of my dear friends and her doggie on a hike up to Ensign Peak last night. When I went to walk my doggie earlier this evening I could DEFINITELY feel the downhill bits (I live on a hill ... my whole dang neighborhood is hilly!)! What doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger, right??? TWO WEEKS until the Ogden Half Marathon, so this was a good training weekend!!! And now the Monday Montage girls are hopping ... and if you are following us all the way around you would have just come from Melissa Stout's blog (you should really click next on all the posts and make it to all the blogs ... all the creations are SOOO fun!) \

This is what ya call a $200 card. I haven't done one of these in a looooooong time!!! I used FIVE stamp sets, a sets of dies, two punches ... and a partridge in a pear tree!!

Stamps: Butterfly Gala, Beauty Abounds, Pocketful of Sunshine, Burlap, Buffalo Check
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Pocket Framelites Dies, Butterfly Duet Punch, Tailored Tag Punch, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner - SITTING OUT THIS WEEK
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

You know that "sweet spot" during your time-between-haircuts when your hair does really well ... for about THREE DAYS??? Well ... I passed that spot about three weeks ago!! HAHAHAHA!!! I have a haircut appointment on Tuesday morning and I am SOOOO excited (which tells me that I must REALLY be overdue). Simple things sometimes make me the happiest!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill has created ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout's ... I'm SO GLAD to have these girls as my friends and sources of inspiration!!

Fab Friday #161

Welllll ... TODAY is a GOOD day!!! Not ONLY is it Fab Friday (and I KNOW you always love that!) ... but I have friends arriving for all over hither and yon to attend Stampin' Up's OnStage event!! I LOOOOOVE my stampin' friends more than I can even tell ya! Heck ... it's BECAUSE of them that I even HAVE a blog!!

I have decided recently to regain my "overdoes-it-girl" mentality when it comes to making cards. I have been STRUGGLING the past few years to try to make cards that are "simple" or "easy" ... and I have just let myself admit to myself that I have more fun when I add #allthethings and #allthelayers. So there you go!! Which bring me to this week's challenge. It's a very clean and beautiful sketch ... and I, of course, added a gazillion layers more than I needed to ... but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Stamps: Beautiful Bouquet, Well Said
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Real Red, Pineapple Punch
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black, Real Red, Pineapple Punch
Accessories: Bouquet Bunch Framelits Dies, Well Written Framelits Dies, Stitched Rectangles Framelits Dies, Classic Label Punch, Tufted Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1/2" Circle Punch, Braided Linen Trim, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots

Can you see how my card started out with this sketch??? It's a fun one!









Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I will be spending the better part of today helping to set things up for the OnStage event at the Salt Palace convention center. Then I will be hanging with friends ... and Saturday we will ALL be together and enjoying crafty goodness (and we will get to see the new 2019-2020 Stampin' Up catalog)!! I can't WAIT!!

Stamp Review Crew - Apron of Love Edition

I cannot BELIEVE that it has been TWO YEARS since I hopped withy friends on the Stamp Review Crew. And not only am I stamping and hopping with them ... I got my days mixed up so now I am LATE with them!! (I thought that this post was to go up TOMORROW night instead of TONIGHT!! Oh what a GOOBER I feel like NOW!!!

In any event, I got to pull out the super FUN Apron of Love Bundle.  Stamp, dies ... every single piece is A-DOR-A-BLE!! And I'm gonna be honest ... I'm not exactly SURE what a "best friend ever" would want to receive a card with an apron on it would signify.  PERHAPS one of all-y'all should make me a PIE or a CAKE or some other such delectable treat ... THEN I could send you this fun little card as a THANK YOU!! It's a WIN-WIN, isn't it???

Stamps: Apron of Love
Paper: Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Foil, Tranquil Tides DSP
Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red
Accessories: Apron Builders Framelits Dies, Stitched Rectangles Thinlits Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies









Cute ....

And SUPER CUUUUTE, right???









Next up?? Click on "Next Blog" to check out what Sue Plote has "cooked up" with this cute apron!! Click on the "Previous Blog" button to see what Cindy Elam has whipped up!!

Monday Montage #135

Back for another Monday Montage Blog Hop after a fun and productive weekend! I got in a 10-mile training run, made some pies, attended a choral concert for my son's choir, made a delicious pork roast in my dutch oven and even had time to stamp a card! Feeling very happy about everything I was able to get checked off my list!

I have been wanting to make a card with this Barn Door/Sliding Door Bundle for quite some time! I kind of put it off when I saw that all the cards made with this looked pretty similar ... well, DUH!! It's a sliding barn door for crying out loud!! Of COURSE cards created with it will be similar ... but they are OH SO CUTE!! I added the little Bitty Blooms punches to the left side of the card just so I could do something other than doubling up a sentiment!

And of course I needed a sentiment to peek out when the door is slid to the left ... and I have MANY birthday cards that need to be mailed out to family, so I am making MANY birthday cards all the time!! I used one of the sentiments from Beautiful Bouquet and then cut it out with the Rectangle Framelits dies (which are my new favorite obsession, I tell ya!)

Stamps: Barn Door, Beautiful Bouquet (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Mango Melody
Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Crumb Cake, Mango Melody, Grapefruit Grove
Accessories: Sliding Door Framelits Dies, Stitched Rectangles Framelits Dies, Simply Scored, Linen Thread, Bitty Blooms Punch Pack, Metallic Pearls

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

After my daughter informed me that she and her hubby were already on the road on their way to the Redwoods in California on Saturday for Spring Break I have been kinda jealous! I haven't been to the Redwoods since I was a young girl (I grew up in Northern California). All I can think about are giant redwood trees! I told my husband that WE need to go ... let's see how long it takes me to convince him to get in the car with me so that we can actually do it!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... can't say that they have EVER disappointed me! I just LOOOOOOVE their creations!

Fab Friday #159

Is it SPRING yet??? We have had MORE snow this week ... for TWO days we have had snow!!! I KNOW we need the moisture ... and I KNOW that it CAN'T last forever ... and it IS pretty ... BUT! I am OVER it already! DANG!!

This week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge is a fun and simple little sketch. I always end up adding more layers than are necessary ... but I can't seem to help it!!

Stamps: Little Elephant, Gallery Grungle
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Petal Pink
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Petal Pink
Accessories: Basic Polka Dot Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Stitched Shapes, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Elephant Builder Punch, Whisper White Bakers Twine

Simple and easy peasy!! You guys GOT this!







Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

We went to Mesquite, Nevada, last weekend to participate in a Spartan Sprint race (it's basically a crazy-muddy obstacle course/run)! The weather was LOVELY!! And it got me in the MOOD for some SKY and warmer temperatures! They are coming, I am SURE of it!

Fab Friday #158

I have a lot to be happy about and grateful for this week!! First, it's FAB FRIDAY!!! (And what is NOT to be happy about THAT??!!?) Second, I got a NEW CAR last week ... and it's ridiculously beautifully obnoxiously GREEN (as in TINKERBELL green ... as in I am already calling her TINK!). The car has all-wheel drive, a sun roof, and so many cool things on it ... I am LOVING it!! And THIRD ... tomorrow I will be participating in the 2019 Outclimb Cancer Challenge (we will be climbing 24 flights of stairs as many times as we can in SIX hours to raise money for cancer research). This is my FAVORITE event of the year! I can't WAIT!!

This week's color challenge just SCREAMS spring, doesn't it??? I actually used some retired twine (it's Mossy Meadow and it was in the last Holiday Catalog). I couldn't help myself!!! This color combo is lovely, though, isn't it???

Stamps: Detailed With Love
Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow, Petal Pink
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Accessories: Lace Dynamic Dynamic Texture Embossing Folder, Stitched Shapes, Bitty Blooms Punch Pack, Metallic Pearls, Mossy Meadow Baker's Twine

See what I mean??? It is GORGEOUS!








Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

Going to spend today doing some light stretching and EATING so that I have the fuel I need to get it done tomorrow ... eating ... sigh ... I do what I can!!

Freakin' for the LITTLES!

Is there anything that is happier than a kid on their birthday??? I think NOT!!! Remember when you were little and it seemed like your birthday (and Christmas and summer vacation!) took FOR-EV-ER to come around??? This month the Control Freaks are making cards/creations for kids! Wasn't Melissa Davies' stuff SUPER SPOT ON??? I had so much fun making the two cards I did ... pretty sure they will add to some smiles on a couple of birthdays!

Not gonna lie ... this is one of the VERY FIRST sets I ordered with the preview of SU's catalog last year. AAAAAAND ... it has been sitting and gathering dust since it came!! I felt a bit intimidated by all the cute little images and dies. It did take a little while to get all the bits stamped and cut, but it was VERY fun!!

And TAAA-DAAAAA!!! Here is the pop-up on the inside!!! It's a freakin' ROLLER COASTER!!! I can't stop smiling when I think of the face of one of my little cousins when this gets opened! I mean, seriously ... what's NOT to be happy about with this???

Stamps: Let the Good Times Roll
Paper: Blueberry Bushel, Grapefruit Grove, Berry Burst, Call Me Clover, Whisper White, Wood Textures DSP
Ink: Blueberry Bushel, Grapefruit Grove, Berry Burst, Call Me Clover, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Thrill Ride Framelits Dies, Dot to Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

I have had a similar experience with this froggy set. It has been sitting and sitting and waiting and waiting for me to pick it up!! Coloring and incorporating DSP from THREE different stacks was very fun!!

Stamps: So Hoppy Together
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Gingham Gala DSP, Garden Impressions DSP, Classic Garage DSP
Ink: Memento Black; Stampin' Blends - Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink
Accessories: Stitched Labels Thinlits, Flourish Thinlits Dies, 1" Circle Punch, Granny Apple Green 1/2" Textured Weave Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Metallic Pearls

Next up???  ... Creative Kelly Acheson!! Be ready for MORE smiles, because her projects are just SO VERY HAPPY!

My Missing Pieces ...

And just like THAT it is already November!!! This entire year has flown by so quickly!!! The GOOD news is that it is finally time for me to go meet up with my stampin' besties in Orlando next week! I honestly canNOT WAIT!!! The friendships I have made over the past 15 years have been truly a blessing! I don't known what I would do without my crafty friends in my life!!

So this card is dedicated to all those who I have met along the way in my stamping/crafting journey. They have changed my life and made me a better person. They have laughed, cried and prayed with me ... they have shared in my joys and sorrows and accomplishments ... my life would be truly empty without them in it!!

I used this card for the challenge I hosted today on Splitcoaststampers ... the challenge was to use a stamp set you just HAD to have ... and have NEVER used!!! (I have WAY more of those than I wish to admit!)

Stamps: Love You to Pieces
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Tranquil Textures DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Puzzle Pieces Thinlits Dies, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Braided Linen Trim, Linen Thread

I really need to start figuring out what I'm going to pack ... I always end up packing WAAAYYY TOOO MUCH!! And I need to get EVERYthing into a carry-on bag, so wish me LUCK!!

Fab Friday #147

Sooooo ... life with a puppy is ANYthing but BORING!! Juniper has been so much fun and amazingly easy to handle ... for a puppy, that is!!! The only "complaint" I can say I have about her is that she LOVES my 13-year-old toy poodle, Daisy, a little too much!!! We have resorted to a spray bottle to squirt her if she gets a little too enthusiastic whilst around Daisy!!! And she wants to help me stamp in the WORST way!!! She is particularly interested in paper bits, spools of ribbon and thinlits/framelits dies!!! It's hard to get mad at her when so is SOOOOOO stinkin' cute!!

Which brings me to the card I made for this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge. I dropped my thinlits a couple of times ... and Juniper was on them like white on rice!!! It's a good thing I was paying attention, or they may have been bent beyond recognition (she doesn't really have much more than little puppy teeth, so she couldn't chew holes in them!)!

Stamps: Detailed With Love
Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Gold Foil
Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Accessories: Corrugated Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Tin Tile Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stitched Labels Framelits Dies, Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies, Braided Linen Trim, Sequins (which I snatched from an old Project Life kit!)

You could also turn this layout horizontally ... it would be cute both ways!










Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

I am going to join my friend, Bree, on the Whole 30 Challenge starting on October 1st. Which is only a few days away ... I'm kind of excited yet kind of nervous to do it!! I guess I should try to plan out a menu and get some shopping done this weekend so that I will be ready!!

Fab Friday #146

The struggle is REAL, my friends!!! I have said before and I will say it again ... there is a REASON we call these "challenges" ... and there is a REASON why YOU should play along! It will most DEFINITELY get your brain working!!! Or as was the case for ME in this challenge ... it seemed to put my brain on LOCKDOWN!!

These colors are PRETTY, right??? Shouldn't be TOO hard to get something put together with them, RIGHT??!!?? I worked on this card for over TWO STINKIN' HOURS ... I could NOT get my groove going ... and this finished product is SOOOOO far away from where I started ... not EVEN kidding!!! But in the end, I guess I like it!

Stamps: Stitched All Around
Paper: Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Balmy Blue, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Powder Pink
Ink: Tranquil Tide, Balmy Blue, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Powder Pink
Accessories: Corrugated Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stitched Labels Framelits Dies, Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies, Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

I BELIEVE IN YOU!!! Y'all are going to make some BEAUTIFUL things with this combo!!








Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Jan Tinklenberg

I am signed up to do the Red Bull 400 tomorrow morning ... which is a CRAZY CLIMB from the bottom to the top of a Nordic Ski Jump in Park City! I may end up getting my friend to do it instead (as it is already paid for) ... I'm STILL trying to get myself back to feeling well after the dumb bug bite/cellulitis episode last week! Sigh ... At least I can go and cheer my friend on and take pictures!!

Monday Montage #124

What a difference a day makes ... or a week ... or two weeks!!! Back home again and time for another Monday Montage Blog Hop!! I have had an eventful two weeks, and a SUPER eventful (in an odd sorta way) weekend! More on that later! For now, it's time to share what I have created with you!

Yep-yep!!! The Buffalo Check background stamp is the BEST STAMP EVER!!! I have a feeling I am going to end up using it ALL THE DANG TIME!!! I borrowed Bree's when I was in Walla Walla a couple of weeks ago. Ended up ordering one for myself, and it FINALLY came last Friday. Woot! Woot!! It will be fabulous in ANY season!!

And I can't decide if this card looks more Christmas-y than it does Fall-ish!! What do y'all think?? Like I said, I think I'm gonna love this stamp until it is pried from my cold, dead fingers!!


Stamps: Picked for You, Buffalo Check Background Stamp, Gallery Grunge
Paper: Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Watercolor
Ink: Poppy Parade, Flirty Flamingo, Cherry Cobbler, So Saffron, Soft Suede
Accessories: Corrugated Dynamic Textured Impressions Folder, Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Braided Linen Trim

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

So ... about my weekend ... it did NOT turn out how I had anticipated it to!!! I got up EXTREMELY EARLY to take a bus up to the start point for the Revel Big Cottonwood Half Marathon. When I first woke up, I wasn't feeling so hot. But being the stubborn sort of person that I am, I decided that I would probably feel better once I got up and moving ... (did I mention that "getting up early" means 3:30am???). Whilst waiting in the 55-degree temperature for nearly 90 minutes for the race to start ... wrapped up in a little space blanket ... I knew I was really in trouble. I was feeling really nauseous and achy ... and STILL decided I was going to tough it out. BAAAAAD IDEA!!! Not even halfway into the first mile I KNEW I was in DEEP DOODOO!! Subsequently, I turned in my VERY WORST half marathon finishing time EVER ... I ended up walking the last two miles! I noticed my heart rate was elevated into the 130's during that two-mile walk ... which is WAY too high for me at a walking pace.

A little back story. I was bit by SOMEthing Monday night on my inner right thigh. LIIIITTLE TEENY TINY mosquito kind of bite. Didn't think much of it ... until it started turning larger ... and angrier ... and more uncomfy! Apparently, it had turned into cellulitis (unbeknownst to me) ... and that is how I "ran" the race ... with a nasty infection on my leg. Fever, chills, body aches, nausea ... I was absolute TOAST by the time I got home. Didn't even shower ... just collapsed on my bed and went out!! When I woke again, I checked the bite ... NO BUENO!! It had gotten bigger, uglier, more inflamed and painful!! I KNEW I had a fever and elevated heart rate. I chucked myself out of bed and headed up to the UrgentCare. Although they did rule out a tick bite (and lyme disease), the doc said I had a nasty case of cellulitis and was dehydrated (hence, the elevated heart rate). Send home with antibiotics and anti-nausea meds. To make a long story shorter ... I ended up BACK at the Urgent Care on Sunday afternoon. It had spread even more and it was hurting and itching like the dickens!! Soooo ... I am on NEW antibiotics, am elevating and icing my leg, have it wrapped in a compression bandage, and am taking benadryl as often as is safe. I need a VACATION!!

So, I'm sitting propped in bed, TRYING to find a semi-comfortable position to be in that (a) keeps my leg elevated, (b) allows me to be propped up whilst keep said leg elevated, and (c) positioning the ice pack for my leg in a place where it will stay put, all whilst allowing me to lay on a heated corn bag for the aches in my bag from the infection!! Ta-DAAAAA! I have been semi-successful most of the day ... but it's wearing thin!

Moving on ...

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... all the crafty goodness you will see in one place with minimal effort!!