Pre- Bahamas Cruise: Miami

I decided to spend the night at Robyn's place last night because she lives closer to the airport.  It would take me a good hour on the Metro from my place, and I didn't want to risk any delays in getting there on time.  We watched several episodes of Big Bang Theory and ate pizza before "springing forward" and going to sleep.

We met Meg at the airport and off we went.  Onward to Miami.  Even though the cruise didn't leave until Monday, we wanted the extra day to hang out with Page and not be in a huge rush to get to the ship.  We met Page at baggage claim in the Miami airport and our college buddy quartet was complete.

The hotel that we stayed at was called Casablanca by the Sea.  The hotel still used metal keys instead of the plastic access cards.  How old school.  The view from the hotel room was beautiful- we could see the ocean and the beach and do some serious people watching.  After getting settled in and changing into clothes suitable for Miami weather, we went on a search for lunch.  The other three got fish tacos and I got chicken tenders with fries.  It was nice to catch up on life in person finally.

We headed back to the hotel and relax and talk some more until it was time for dinner. There didn't seem to be too many places to eat around the hotel, so we settled for the hotel restaurant.  I had a salad for dinner and mojito...the vegetables were definitely welcomed.  Robyn asked for a gin and tonic and the waitress asked what was in that.  Page had to clarify that it was an alcoholic drink that had gin and tonic in it.  Clearly the waitress wasn't a bartender too.  That definitely got a few laughs.  Then it was back to the room to start winding down the day.  It had been a long day with all the traveling and walking we did!

Check out the fixtures outside the hotel...how unique, right?

View of the beach from our hotel window.  The hotel website said that an ocean view would cost $8, but we got this view without that charge.

Page (left) and Meg (right)

Robyn and me

Birdie Birthday Card

Today is my last day in the office before the vacation.  I'm FREE until Monday, March 18.  :D

Here's a new card that I made for a family member's upcoming birthday.  I used a green doily scrap that I was originally going to use for this card, but then decided at the last minute on a different color.  I didn't want that piece to go to waste so I used it for this card.  With a different sticker and colors, the card changed from baby to birthday. 

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Warm Green Charcoal, Prussian Blue
Stamp: Studio G (sentiment), Hero Arts- Cling Dots (polka dots), Stampin' Up- Elementary Elegance (bird, butterfly)
Paper: Chatterbox
Die: QuicKutz- Nesting Lace Doilies
Sticker: Martha Stewart Heirloom Framed Bird Stickers

Snow Day

The federal goverment was closed today, so I got a snow day!  The snow wasn't really all that exciting because it was wet snow and everything looked really slushy outside.  Oh well, I got to sleep in and that was awesome. I was on my work computer doing email for a little bit today and based on what I see on our office IM system, a lot of us were on our work computers. Sometimes the show must go on. Given all the stuff that's been in the news about the Yahoo CEO doing away with teleworking and yucky weather days like this, it makes me feel so lucky that my job allows us to telework and that we have the technology to do so. It's one of the best benefits I have! 

One alarming thing that happened this morning was that when I checked my phone when I woke up, all my text messages on my iPhone were gone! ACK, WTH?! Good thing I had a recent backup on my iTunes. That was a good reminder for me to backup my phone every night before bed because you never know what could happen!

New Nails

I did my nails again last night and since I had some extra time, I did some stamping too.  I was surprised that the Konad pink polish didn't perform as well as the Sally Hansen polish.  Maybe it's a fluke thing, I dunno.  I'm also on the lookout for a good white stamping polish.  I saw some on BornPrettyStore.com that looked affordable.  We'll see.

Base coat: China Glaze in Aqua Baby. (2 coats). Pink: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in Presto Pink. Bundle Monster plate #206.

Goodwill Goodies and New Baby Card

Goodwill Goodies: After going to spin class this morning (man, it was tough to get out of bed, blah!), I went to Target to get 4 more yellow placemats to add to the ones that I got  yesterday.  Now I feel like I have a complete set...ones for people to eat on and then a few leftover to put in the center of the table for the food.  I also got some Snickers and Twix eggs.  I didn't HAVE to get them, but I had a coupon, heh.

On the way home, I went to Goodwill and found these goodies: a framed print for $4.98 and 3 CD wire racks that I thought would work for a jewelry stand.  The price tag said $1.96 for one of them.  The other two didn't have a price tag.  The cashier sold them to me for $0.96 each.  Huh?  That can't be right.  Confused, I asked him what the price was again and he said $0.96 for each ($2.88 total for all 3).  Oook, I'm not going to argue with you. 

I took some black twisty-ties that I had in my kitchen drawer to secure these racks together.  I thought of using my hot glue gun or my Glossy Accents, but that seemed too permanent to me.  Now, most of my dangle earrings as well as some necklaces are displayed nicely.  As for the framed leaf print, I originally put it in my living room, near the kitchen, but since the wall paint is similar to the frame, the art kinda gets lost on the wall.  I moved it up to my bathroom, where the walls are a pale blue.

Card: Here's the card that I made last night for an upcoming baby shower that I'm going to in a few weeks.  Martha Stewart came to my rescue again.

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Warm Red, Charcoal
Stamp: The Paper Company Studio- Greetings (sentiment), Hero Arts- Cling Dots (polka dots),
Paper: Die Cuts with a View
Die: QuicKutz- Nesting Lace Doilies
Sticker: Martha Stewart Blue-Green Fabric Rocking Horse Sticker

Leaving for my cruise in a week! :D

Target Haul

I was on a mission today.  a) Go to a moving sale near my parents' house and b) go to Target to find some placemats because the ones that I have now are not washable and there are some pen marks and nail polish stains on them.  I wanted to buy ones that were for eating only (no crafting or doing my nails on them...).  I'm happy to report that Target was very good to me today.  I found 4 daffodil colored washable cloth placemats for...get this...$0.68 each!  I also found some good deals on jewelry.  My next crafty adventure will be to build a framed jewelry holder so that I can display all my earrings in the bedroom.  The pottery bowls they are in now doesn't do them justice because they get jumbled together and you can't see all the colors in their glory!

Birdy Birthday Card

At the office: I submitted my updated article today!  It had been giving me a lot of anxiety this week because I wanted it to be done.  There was no way I was going to let it hang over my head this weekend!  Now, it's in someone else's hands and I can move on with my life.

Card: Here's a card that I made for a friend's upcoming birthday.  I used some Martha Stewart stickers as embellishments.  I love using these stickers because adding a few of these elements takes little time, but adds pizazz to the card within seconds.  A lot of bang for your buck!  Well, especially when the whole sticker set was $1.49, so I have quite a few birds left.

Card Specs:
Embossing powder: Stampendous! in White
Embossing ink: VersaMark
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Chestnut Roan
Stamp: The Paper Company Studio- Cupcakes (sentiment), Hero Arts- Envelope Pattern
Paper: American Crafts- Letterbox
Stickers: Martha Stewart- Damask Embossed Bird Stickers
Punch: Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment border punch
White Gel Pen: Uni-Ball Signo Broad White Gel Pen

Vacation: My cruise is a little more than a week away, and I'm already in vacation mode.  I started downloading books onto my e-reader and music on my iPhone.  I have taken out my carry-on luggage and started putting items in it for the trip, i.e. passport and itinerary.  Hello, could I be more prepared?

Song of the day: "Awakening"- Switchfoot...another song from spin.