Origami Flower Card

Ah, finally, some relief! I was able to sleep in my bed upstairs last night and I think I'll be able to tonight since the heat isn't so bad. I'm very much looking forward to hearing what the AC guy says about my unit when he comes tomorrow. This whole situation needs to be remedied pronto!

At least I was able to make a card tonight. With the exception of the alphabet stickers and the punch, everything was already within reach on my craft desk. The flower was leftover from the origami class I taught at the beginning of the month. The brown polka dot patterned paper and stamped envelope panel were leftover from last week's order from the office. Ta da!

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan
Paper: American Crafts- Abode
Stamp: Hero Arts- Envelope Pattern
Pearl: Recollections
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Foliage
Stickers: October Afternoon Mini Market Stickers in Teal and Black
Other: Brown Sharpie Ultra Fine Point marker

AC Woes

I think there's something wrong with my air conditioner. I set the temperature on the thermostat, but then the temperature reading doesn't change when I turn the AC on. I don't think the air that's coming out of it is really all that cold, and it continuously runs. Ergh. With all that said, I'm glad that this happened now at the beginning of the summer so that I could get it looked out now. It's been too hot to do anything in the house on the upper level, where my bedroom and craft room are. Last night, I broke down and got the air mattress out to sleep in the living room. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The AC guy is coming on FRI so keep your fingers crossed for me!

Fall-To Layout #192

Spin class womp: BLAH! I went to the gym tonight, excited that I'd be able to get in another spin class this weekend. I went into the classroom and there was only 1 person there, and it stayed that way for a while. Then I remembered seeing on the door that the gym was closing at 7 PM. I went back downstairs and confirmed with the desk staff that class was canceled. Aw, bummer. Well, I already got to the gym. I might as well work out. I was able to get in 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill while watching Bethenny Ever After until the gym closed.

Lilly the dog: I went to lunch with Beth today and afterwards she invited me to go visit her new-ish dog, Lilly. Beth adopted her at the beginning of the month and I had gone to see them the weekend she got her. Lilly was so tired from being driven from SC and then adjusting to a new home that she wasn't very lively the first time I saw her. This time, however, I got my fair share of doggy kisses.

WTH Neighbor Moment: I was sitting on the couch watching TV when I noticed that RJ sat up in attention with his eyes on window. OMG, the old lady neighbor is doing something to my garden, tending to my wilted daffodils! I know that she's done this before when I wasn't home, but never when I was actually at home. I didn't want to stare in case she caught me staring. I'm thinking she was just trying to be helpful...but how weird, right?!

Card: Here's my card for today (Fall-To Layout #192), which was pretty easy to make because I had the heart patterned paper and card front on my desk already. The hardest part was figuring out which flowers to use.

Card Specs:
Ink: Stampin' Up- Early Espresso. Colorbox Chalk Ink in Yellow Citrus and Chestnut Roan
Paper: American Crafts- Abode
Stamp: Hero Arts- Thinking of You Messages (sentiment), Hero Arts- Envelope Pattern, Martha Stewart- Patterns
Brad: American Crafts, Large Brads- Cherry
Flowers: Prima

National Harbor and the Peep Store

It is so nice to have a few days off directly following the Annual Meeting. I don't think I could have gone back to work without somewhat of a break. I went to hang out with Meg, Robyn, and Maria for dinner tonight at the National Harbor. We don't normally hang out here, but Robyn wanted to go to the Peep Store to get something for her sister (a Peep golf club cover, which we found out they don't carry in the store anymore). Afterwards we went to a Thai restaurant where I got pad thai and a lycee martini (I wonder if they missed out on the alcohol because I didn't taste any...).

Seattle, Day 6

Yay, I'm home! Whew, what a trip. I was stuck next to a chatty squirmy kid flying from Seattle to Denver. His mom gave him a few sleeves of Pez. OMG, are you kidding me?! Biggest mistake ever. No wonder he was so hyped up!

I am so thankful for a fur baby at home that only speaks to inform me that it's meal time.

Seattle, Day 5

Today is the last full day of the meeting. I'm heading out early tomorrow for my odyssey home back to the east coast.

I'm going to have to go on a serious diet when I get home. One co-worker brought over some leftover cupcakes from the Yellow Leaf Cupcake Company, and I split a gluten-free chocolate one with a co-worker. I can't say that it was better than the ones from Georgetown Cupcake, but it was pretty good. Then for lunch, I went to Pike Place Chowder for lunch. There were so many things on the menu that I wanted to eat, but my final decision was some scallop chowder and clam strips. The chowder filled me up for lunch, and I was able to save the clam strips for dinner.

This was the first year that we've done evening (7:00-8:30 PM) sessions, and I was debating on if I was going to go to one, but I'm so glad that I did. There was a session on how to react to a Zombie Apocalypse, and 3/4 speakers put face paint on. My executive director even got in on the fun and appeared in between speakers with face paint. Alcohol being served prior to this session probably helped loosen people up too. All silliness aside, I think that preparedness is important. Public health organizations have to be ready for anything, and it's essential to conduct practice drills and also share stories and lessons learned from past experiences (i.e. anthrax in Minnesota).

Seattle, Day 4

You know you've had too much to eat when you're okay with eating an apple and pear for dinner.

Food on this trip can be summarized by a few words: sugar and cream.

Like yesterday, a member recognized me what I was wearing because of what I was wearing. I sent out an email earlier that day to some committee members and said "I have not met many of you in person, so if you’re at the ___ Annual Meeting, come say hi! ___ staff can help with pointing me out (I’m wearing a pink jacket and black dress today- Monday- if that helps any)." One guy came up to me to introduce himself and said that he guessed it was me because of the black and pink.