Go Jump in the Lake

Here is the card I made for Mary and I gave her the towel too (It's the SU beach towel in the background that I have had forever...unused of course.) This is also my Random Act of Kindness too. Something I thought of doing and actually acted upon it.

I dug through the pile of stamps stacked on my floor (Bill is putting up my new shelf this weekend) and I was looking for something beachy. But then I came across this stamp and thought it was appropriate for the occasion....jumping in Lake Michigan on New Year's Day.

This is a simple card with a few layers, ribbon and brads. I stamped the image with Versa Fine Sepia and colored it with my watercolor crayons. Such shock...I know....I colored! I already explained to Mary that she is very special because she got a colored card from me. I HATE coloring and rarely do it. There aren't that many colored cards floating around in this world from me. So if you have one you better cherish it. LOL

This photo is also my PAD3. It's a two for one....a random pic and it's actually stamping related. You don't really come here for the stamping do you?

Gotta run. I am baking bread again and it's almost my turn on the Wii. Yes, I have to get in line with the kids or I won't get a turn.

RAK from Tammy

Thank you Tammy for the beautiful RAK. It was such a nice surprise to come home last week and get an nice goodie in the mail.

Please visit Tammy at the blog Stamp With Tammy. Check out the incredible teacher gift card tin she made. I am in LOVE with it. What a great idea....I have added it to my files for a future day when I have nothing to do...yeah when is that going to happen?

BTW, here is a random bit of SU trivia. Did you know the sentiment on this card was made by the one and only Kristina Werner? Yep it's true....watch the video if you don't believe me.

Sunday PMS Check

Before I get to my Sunday PMS Check let me show you another great RAK I received for Valentine's Day from SmilynStef on SCS...she also has a great blog... Ingenious Inkling....check out her awesome stuff on the blog. Thanks for for thinking of me and taking the time to send me a RAK.

**PMS Check**

Physical Well Being - I have not lost anymore weight but I haven't gained any either. Maintaining is always a good thing. I haven't really put forth the effort like I was before either. I went back to the granola bar coffee for breakfast, granola bar and coffee for lunch and anything I can scarf down in the evening. Time to re-set and think ahead of time....being prepared is definately the key to my success.

Mental Well Being - I am in mental turmoil right now and I really can't tell you why just yet. Don't you hate that.....I've got a secret and I can't tell you yet...and it's killing me!!! Really, because I always vent here and ask for the opinion of my imaginary friends and you never steer me wrong. But this time I have to throw it out to the universe (that's the law of attraction lingo....but really I am giving up to God).

Spiritual Well Being - It's Lent and I gave up Starbucks....it's hard....as it should be. I also wanted to start going to morning prayer again which I totally forgot about. It's just a nice way to start my day...and I miss it. I also bought The Secret cd set to listen to in the car. I didn't buy the book because I knew I wouldn't finish it....I rarely finish books. What have I learned so far...positive attracts positive. I no longer want to be part of other people's negative energy as it draws in negative energy....I have enough of my own to get rid of and I don't need any help from the people around me. No more dishin the scoop with Jen....crap who...I mean.... what are we going to talk about now?

Thanks for spending your Sunday evening with me and my few moments of self examination. See you on the blog!

Birthday RAK's

Mary Ann sewnsun
Krista Kristastamps
Jen VCJORDI
Jen jenstampnator
Mary etlsmom

My birthday was February 8th and I received some really cute birthday RAK's that I wanted to share with all of you. I have more to post later but wanted to say thank you to these ladies for their beautiful cards. Thanks for making my day even more special.

Job Update

I love this Christmas card that Allison from Stampin When I Can sent me. The colors remind of when it snows at night it is so peaceful looking. She used the Cuttlebug snowflake folder on the blue background layer and the chalk pefectly matches the paper color. The snow drifts have sparkles on them too. So pretty.

Inside Allison included a thank you note for visiting her blog. Let me just say that she has a lot of visitors and I am amazed and blessed that she included me on her card list. It's been so long since I have RAK'd her and I am happy she remembered me! Thanks Allison.

**Job Update** So many of you have asked for a job update and I keep forgeting to do it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job. The hours are perfect and flexible enough for me to drop off my kids at school and pick them up. I get the responsibility of steering the decisions made by the entire Marketing Committee.

For example, once the committee agrees upon a Marketing initiative then it is up to me to implement the plan and bring back a progress report each week. Right now I am working on our new WEB site and working with a company that does the creating of it and I get to say what I like and don't like and have them tweek it along the way. I am also going to start the same process for our Comcast TV commercial in March.

On a daily basis, I submit ad requests to the advertiser and give my two cents on what I want changed. These are ads that will run in three newspapers including the Chicago Tribune. (My rep for the Tribune is Fabio....every time he comes to visit me all the girls in the office get giddy...including our 80 year old receptionist. Get the typical Fabio image out of your head...my Fabio looks more like Tom Cruise.)

Then I am responsible for tracking new and closed accounts. I mail out letters almost daily and attempt to "track" why people left or how they heard about us which will help determine if the money being spent on Marketing is being used in the right areas; newspapers, TV, community support, etc.

I am also responsible for all donation requests from the local community. If the donation is approved by the committee then I am responsible for making it happen. I just finished up a Charity Drive where the bank donates $100 to a Chicagoland Charity chosen by new customers in the months of Nov and Dec. That was a nice project to do...it's always nice to give away money...esp when it's someone else's money. LOL

I work in the executive office area of the bank and I have two bosses. The main person I answer to on a daily basis is the Executive Vice President who happens to be an alumni of the school my kids attend. My other boss is the Chairman of the Board who happens to be a woman that is three years younger than me. I just found out that she graduated with my brother and knows him well....to say the least. Small world...really.

So what have I learned about working in the real world? Basically, it
cost me $5 if I want to wear a dress or skirt. Every single time I wear a
dress or skirt I ruin my panty hose. Therefore, I usually wear pants or a suit on a daily basis. LOL

Honestly, I LOVE my job and was floored to receive a Christmas bonus after only being on the job for three months. The Chairman of the Board pushed it through (part time employees don't get bonuses) and when I called her to thank her she thanked me and then said "just so you know, retirement age at the bank is 83 so don't plan on going anywhere". Let me tell you...they are going to have to push me out the door kicking and screaming.

So there is the job update for those enquiring minds. See ya on the blog!