Bruce Springsteen, are you reading my blog?

I'm feeling a real connection with Bruce Springsteen right now. I've been a huge Springsteen fan for YEARS; I've been to see him many times, I have his albums, I have his video, I even have a small book about him that I carry in my purse all times. Want to know where he grew up, when he played his first concert, when he got married, the names of his children, etc.? If I don't know it off the top of my head I can simply pull out my book and find the answer.

This has been an ongoing adoration, but right now something is different. Let me list the things that have me thinking something is going on:

1. Tomorrow The Boss will be playing at half time during the Super Bowl
2. Monday tickets go on sale for the next Springsteen concert in Minnesota
3. Tonight there was a Springsteen special on VH1 about the making of his new album
4. During the VH1 show he talked about a new song he wrote about being in love with the checkout clerk at the supermarket.

Ok. Here's the really cool part. Monday is my birthday.

Are you seeing the connection? Super Bowl Sunday - birthday on Monday. Tickets on sale Monday - birthday on Monday. Rare special about the Boss on Saturday - birthday on Monday. Song about being in love with the clerk at the supermarket - I used to work at a supermarket. I know!

Coincidence? I don't think so. I have a feeling that Bruce has something special planned for my birthday, and all of these strange happenings are just leading up to the big surprise.

I don't normally wish weekends away, but man, I wish it was Monday!

Valentine Playing Cards

Here's another Valentine's project that I'm working on. So far I've only made this one, and it was kind of putzy yet cute . . . I think. It kind of reminds me of a friend of mine that got married. The next day the family and the wedding party got together to watch the new couple open their wedding gifts. My Friend, Jim, opened a bowl and said, "this is pretty, isn't it Vicki?" as if he wasn't at all sure that it was. It was such a funny moment and I totally know how he feels as I look at this card. I'm thinking it would be fun to give to a spouse or loved one that likes to play cards, but I'd love to hear what you think. Should I continue to make these (there are lots of other sayings to use) or just move on? Remember, honesty is the best policy!

NOTE: this is a playing card (a heart of course) in a handmade vellum envelope, which is why I call it putzy!

2009 Planner

One of the things I have a hard time buying is a planner. I really should just make my own because I have lots of rules about planners, but I haven't quite figured out how to make one yet. Instead I search online, search in stores, search online again; always trying to find just the right planner.

Here is the list of things I want in a planner:

1. It must be cute. That goes without saying, right?

2. I want one, if not two, inside pockets for things I like to have with me.

3. I like one week per two page spread, with room for to do lists.

4. Some type of page marker, so I can find today quickly.

5. The perfect size is 5" x 7".

That's it - seems easy, right? No, it certainly is not! Every year I look and look and can't find what I'm looking for, and then suddenly it's mid-January and now the choices are very limited and I've already missed a couple of birthdays! I panic and buy any old planner and then spend time making adjustments to it so that it meets my needs.

The planner I bought for 2009 fits #2, #3 and #5. Notice that #1, the cuteness factor, is not mentioned. The planner is actually a "Mom's Family Planner" or something and the front had (note that I said had, not has) a mom on the front with all her mom stuff and some stupid saying. I am NOT going to carry that around all year. I started to customize the front cover by adding some fun paper, shown here:

I need to add something more, like ribbon or 2009 or something, but I haven't quite decided what that will be yet. I know it won't be a flower, and it won't be a picture of me, but other than that I can't make any promises.

The planner does have one inside pocket (#2 on list), which is good, and I've already tucked my important stuff I might need to reference into the pocket, including my Book Club Reading List for 2009, my daughter's schedule, etc. As I look at this picture I'm thinking I may need to add more paper on this pocket in order to accomplish #1 (see above list).

The planner did come with a two page spread for each week (#3 on list) and also has a "to do" section on one of the pages, which I love.

As you can see in this photo, there is a tear off grocery list and a menu planner that will not receive any use, unless I doodle or make list of craft ideas there.

The planner did not come with a page marker (#4 on list) so I made my own with some eyelets and elastic. It worked, kind of, but not great.

The size of the planner is 5" x 7" - perfect!

So, as I look back at this post I'm suddenly realizing that I may have a serious problem. Does this seem a bit obsessive to you? Are you this picky about your planner? Simple Scrapbooks (the magazine) is really to blame . . . I had never used a planner until they had one for sale, which met all of my criteria and then some. But after 2 years they quit making them and left me to search and search and eventually just retrofit some crappy planner that can't even meet 5 simple requirements. Seriously.

Back to school . . . and a craft update!

My "baby girl", pictured above, went back to college on Saturday to start her 4th semester. She goes to school in Oregon and we are in Minnesota, so she's far away and yet we stay connected. Aren't cell phones grand? I remember waiting for Sunday night when my parents would call . . . we didn't talk the rest of the week because it was expensive. Now my daughter and I can chat online, text or call on our cell phones - and of course she can read my blog! Communication is a good thing and help to close the many miles between us.

Now that the new year has begun, kids are back in school and year-end paperwork is complete it's time to focus on crafts. I have a project in the works (more Valentine items) that I hope to complete over the weekend and post here.

In between work and crafts I'm still studying for my HR Certification test which I'll be taking very soon. I'm nervous about the outcome but very anxious to have it over.

Until then, here's an item that's for sale in my 1000Markets shop and my Etsy shop;

I love the colors of this card, and since it's blank inside there are many ways that it could be used (thinking of you, thanks, happy birthday, etc.). I would love to have you visit my shops and check out the rest of the items!

I wish that I could have watched the inaguration today, but since I was at work I missed it. I plan to watch CNN tonight and see the replay. What an exciting day!

Oh - don't tell my daughter I posted this picture . . . she probably wouldn't like it!!

Seriously? Is this necessary?

What a very sad sight . . . this is our picnic table sitting forlornly in our backyard. How sad is that? It's so cold here in Minnesota; I mean really cold. So cold that a person just wants to curl up on the couch under a nice, warm blanket and wait for spring!

The only thing keeping me going in this weather is the knowledge that in just 5 short weeks I'll be looking at this:

Or maybe this:

Or possibly even this:

Ok, I think you get the point. In just 5 weeks I will be lounging on the beach in Mexico and I truly cannot wait. Warm breezes, cold drinks, hot sun . . . heaven!

In the meantime I'm spending all of my free time studying for an HR certification test that I'm taking at the end of the month. I'd much rather be crafting, but for the month of January studying has to be my priority.

I did make some Valentine's Day cards, like this:

And you can find them in my 1000Markets shop. Click the link and take a look!

I've received an award!!!

Thanks so much to Andrea from RooksPaperScissors for giving me the Blob-tastic Award! I appreciate the kudos!

Now it's my turn, and I get to pass this award on to 6 fantastic bloggers - blogs that I love to read. Here they are:

1. Cicada Daydream - such a creative person she is . . . and her blog is very well written.
2. Elise Blaha - young and energetic - and creative too! A fun read.
3. Lu Summers - a talented artist from across the pond! I bought some of her items for Christmas gifts . . . but kept them for myself because they are so very cute!
4. RaspberryFairy - a fun blog to read . . . I must secretly want to live in the UK!
5. BobsandBits - a recent customer with a fun and colorful blog! Very cute items for sale too!
6. Every Jot & Title - great Etsy shop and very fun blog!

I hope you will take a moment to visit the homepage of the award and learn how to participate!