OooOohh! A surprise!

Time is truly of the essence here in my TLF (Temporary living facility) room here at Eielson AFB. We've been here almost a month and it's really wearing on me. While I like, and agree, with the more minimalist living....its getting old living out of a suitcase. (Nomads out there, you are brave) We're going on 2 1/2 months of living out of suitcases now and probably another 20 days. Ugh.  Anywho... we are purchasing a house and we (whatever you have available to cross...please do!) are trying to close August 15th. That plan was almost SEVERELY derailed when I made a call to my lender and they couldn't close the day we wanted. Needless to say...we had to start over from scratch with a new mortgage lender.  A day of frantic scanning and phone calls...we back on track, appraisal ordered, good to go. Hopefully. 

So, with a day full of hair-pulling and terror of losing the house, I was doing my blog surf seeing who was being crafty, because I can't, and I stopped by Lisa's blog Stampin, crafting, & snow, Oh My! and saw that she dedicated a "Thing of beauty award" to me! This was just the thing to cheer me up! I couldn't have needed this at a better time! (Funny, because Lisa was having the same sort of day when she received hers! The stamping angels are looking out for us!)

Here's what she said "Last, but certainly not least, Jayme of Closet Stampin', Its Not A Hidden Addiction!--Jayme and her family just transferred to Alaska and she loves it already, which is just awesome. Unfortunately she is close to 300 miles north of me :( If I remember correctly Jayme is the one who told me about the previously mentioned Christmas blog when I met her through the Friday Mashup. I might have that mixed up though because my memory stinks! LOL Anyway, she is another super talented gal whose blog I love to check out!"  Aww! Thanks!!

So now the thing to do is pay it forward! (I love that movie by the way!!) I share with 5 other bloggers and share 5 things about myself! Here goes!

About me:
1. We have lived in Alaska all of a month (almost!) and we've counted 11 moose as of today!! We saw a mother and 2 calves here on base on the way to our squadron picnic. I am blown away every time I see one!

2. I've been doing a lot of reading since not having the ability to stamp. Have fallen in love with Jennifer Weiner's books and Jodi Picoult. They can really bring a story to life! I just finished Jennifer Weiner's Fly Away Home and it was AMAZING! And so true to real events!

3. I've become obsessed with having cable again. We had AFN in England because it was free and carried all the sports Carl could watch! We've been staying up really late (again, easy when the sun is out so late!) watching HGTV, Pawn Stars, Alaska State Troopers, Tracking Big Foot (which these people are crazy-they have all this scientific knowledge, but can't find the things! lol!) Reality shows are our life. We are a one-TV household...will probably get a second one once we move into our house.

4. I will be a full-time student at University of Alaska Fairbanks in September! I'll be studying High Latitude Agriculture!

5. I play Roller Derby! I recently had the chance to guest skate with the Fairbanks Rollergirls...and it was AWESOME!! These girls were super nice and chatted me up like I've known them all my life, and gave me some new war-wounds (which I proudly showed off to Carl when getting home!) They are having try-outs soon...I'd love to skate with them!

I tried to share things I didn't before...that was difficult. Trying to get the exciting bits out there!
Now to pass this along:

~Belinda over at Studio B Designs. Belinda and I met a long time ago (07) when she was my Tupperware Director. She's awesome and really far away (in Germany!)I miss stamping and creating with her. (Some day...keep those fingers crossed)

~Darlene at darlenedesign her work is amazing!!!! I pop over to her blog from time to time to get some new tips and tricks!

~Shirley at Look at my cute stuff always has awesome creations!! I can't wait to play again on her Ala Card Monkey challenge blog!

~Jen at I Create I aspire to learn her simplicity in card making. Her cards are beau-ti-ful and always very elegant!

~ Jamie at Wanna be creative. I get a lot of neat ideas form her blog. Her and Belinda used to stamp together!

Congrats ladies, and thanks again, Lisa for brightening my day when it was so badly needed!!

Have a scrap-tastic day!!

Shadow Box Winner!

Thanks so all the kind ladies over at HSS for choosing my Shadow Box card as one of their winners!! This was one of the most fun cards I've made!! If you've never made one before, don't let it intimidate you.  If you've never played along over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, I urge you try that as well!!

So, get those creative juices flowing and have a scrap-tastic day!!!!

I'd like to thank...

Two posts in one day! I know how you're feeling!! But this was too good to not have a post of its own! My dearest friend Belinda Keller has awarded me with a Stylish Blogger Award!!! How cool!!! I never knew how one earned such an award, but I never thought I would earn one! YAY!!!! So excited!!

When you recieve this award you are to pay it forward and follow these rules:

1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog (THANKS!!!)


2) share 8 things about myself


3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered


4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition!

So lets see 8 things about me........

.

1) I have lived in England for the last 5 years. We move to Fairbanks AK this summer.

2) I am a USAF Veteran, separated after 6 years of service to focus on my family.

3) I was born in New Orleans and raised in Wisconsin.

4) My husband and I met in England at work, but are both from WI about 1 1/2 hours away from each other.  I even went to his school for a Key Club Rally and Band competitions!

5) I've roller skated since I was around 6 or 7. I now play Roller Derby in Cambridge! My right ring finger is shorter because of an incident with my skates!

6) I joined Stampin Up! in 2010 while here in the UK as a hobby demo. I'd really like to start a club in AK.

7) We have a Lab-Rottweiler, Rocky, and he is really something else! (and need that decoder from Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs so I know what he's thinking)



8) I am a student at Oregon State University. I tried really hard to get into this school, since they are the only school that offers a completely online BS in Agriculture. I also learned that I hate taking classes online. I'll be transferring to University of Alaska-Fairbanks as soon as I get there and will major in Natural Resources.

Eight Fabulous Blogs (in no particular order) that I am passing this award on to:

Stamp with Jenn 

Angela Timms

Debbi Rippentrop

Allison Orhan

Renee Ondrajka

Heather Summers

Ribbon and Julz

Jesse Arellano


Thanks so much!! I'll wear my new badge with honor!!!!
Have a scrap-tastic day!!!