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Hello Friday!

/ Jodi / 2 Comments

Blended Bloom Hi There in Yello and Denim

HELLLLOOOO Friday! Always happy to see you!  And especially this Friday, because tomorrow is Girlfriend Camp (GFC) with a few of my favorite “girls” coming to the house.  I guess thinking of GFC got me in a crafty mood (though I probably should have been cleaning or cooking for the girls this week!)  I thought a sunny hello with a yellow and orange SU Blended Blossom and a denim bow was fun, and liked how this card turned out.

Since I was feeling “crafty” – I have a “Three-fer” this week on my usual Friday card posting.

hello

This card was a fun new technique to try for my stamping and crafting friends.  I first sponged some pink and blue and brown on whisper white card stock.  Then I chose a fun chevron embossing folder, which I spritzed with water (on the side that does not have the print of the name on it), pressed my sponged paper in – ink against water – briefly – then dried to give this fun effect.  I then layered it on with complimentary colored card stock, added my favorite “Hello” stamp from my StampinUp “Hi There” set by inking with Versamark and then embossing in gold.  Finished it off with a bow of soft twine and a couple sparkly sequins.

Whats Your Type and Just Sayin

This third one was totally just winged out of trying some new stamps.  I got the Stampinup What’s Your Line and Just Sayin sets, so just started goofing around here.  I stamped some of the random shapes in Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizazz and Crumb Cake inks (are you hungry now?) on SU Watercolor paper (I have to say – I was trying to just use some cheaper stuff I had and can’t believe the difference in quality!).  I then spritzed it all with water and put some coarse sea salt on top while it dried.  I then embossed the Hey There in Gold on translucent parchment and again embellished with some soft twine – the thinner this time and gold sequins with a dab of crystal effects.  Layered it up and even put a strip of the water color paper on the inside.  I kind like it.  It is a softer style.

Just for fun – which one do you like best?  No right answer – just curious…

And just havin’ fun….

at Life in Between.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Happy Graduation and Best Wishes Jules!

/ Jodi / 3 Comments
Graduation Card Julie

SU @SoSocial, Owl Punch, En Francais

So Jules – This one is for you!

Just a few important things I want to tell you:

Happy Graduation!  (this card is on it’s way to you – note the Case Western Color theme… 🙂 )

Congrats on the new job!  (don’t eat too much SPAM!)

Best wishes on your move! (can’t wait to see how you Julieize your new pad!)

Wishing you much success and happiness. (because you deserve it, and I know you will spread joy and fun wherever you go!)

And always remember how much I love ya! (that goes without saying – but I never want to stop telling those I love! ❤ )

Ya know – I have known you from the day you were born, and I have loved you that long too!  You are like a daughter to me, and I just want you to know how proud I am of the amazing young lady you’ve become.

From fond memories of the past…

jules1with all the craziness you put up with from your Mom and me and this whole gang of houligans…

jules2

and to wine glasses bigger than you….

jules3and paint chip walls and college visits…

Jules4

It’s been great.
It’s been fun.

It’s #kindofabigdeal !

Love ya Julie Henderson!

Cheers and Hugs,

Momma 2 – Jodi

Friends Found – Ain’t it Good to Know You’ve Got a Friend

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Tranquil thinking of you SU Lovely as a TreeAs I was contemplating what I would share on my blog today, I was emailing with a dear friend.
Always the multi-tasker, I was doing three or four things at once, but got stuck on a thought she put in my head.

Friends Found

Do you ever think about all the ways people come into your life?
How you decide who will be your “friend?”
Is it a conscious decision?
Does it take consideration?
For some, it takes time…
it takes proof,
it takes evidence,

But for me…… (and as niave as it may sound)
You are my friend…
right away…
unless or until you prove otherwise.

I fall in love quickly.
(and not in an inappropriate way)
But I simply love people.
I love their differences, their uniqueness, their similiarities…
their stories, their history, their traditions…

I love it all –
and consider you my friend
unless you prove otherwise.

No “proving” of friendship with me.
Only proving you’re not… my friend – if that is to be.

Otherwise I’ll love ya.
Because what is life about if not for that?
Call me naïve
Call me gullible
Call me a dreamer…

Whatever

I’d rather love and lose
than never love at all.

and that reminds me…
like just about everything 🙂 …
of a song…

(and here is my favorite version of Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend” from Divas Live – which I had on CD years ago – and now must search for! – but practically wore out listening to – and shamefully sang out VERY loud to from my car many, many a times…)

You’ve Got a Friend:

You know…
I had a bit of a vagabond lifestyle growing up
with lots of change and many different homes and schools and situations…
but I don’t regret a minute of it – because it shaped me into what and who I am today.

And I think I am ok.

Life throws us a lot of curve balls,
but the fun part is figuring out how to hit them!
And though I started out with a bit of a rocky road,
I have found so many friends along the way that have more than made up for it!

Yep –
I’ve got a friend – in fact quite a few friends – and I am so grateful…
for
Friends Found
at Life in Between.

Thank you for being a friend. (teehee – another song!)

Cheers and Hugs,
Jodi

SMILE – It’s Time to Wake Up!

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alarm clock
Marty laughs at me because he says I am the only person he knows who wakes up singing to their alarm.

(I’m not sure how valid his point is, because I don’t think he’s woken up with (ahem) that many other people in his life….)

So – tell me – is it really that weird….. ya know…. to wake up singing to your alarm?

My “alarm clock” is my iPhone and my “alarm” is the song “Smile” by Uncle Cracker.

Now isn’t that a great way to wake up?!

Happy Monday!

Let Your Smile Change the World…..

Don’t Let the World Change Your Smile!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

A Father’s Day Tribute – I AM the LUCKIEST!

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Many are blessed with a great dad in their life.

Some sadly never know their dad.

I, however, have been blessed with FOUR great Dads in my life.

Well – really three that I call Dad…        …and then a great one I call “Merv” or Marty or Sweetie – my hubby….

the best dad of all – to our amazing sons.

The reason for more than one dad in my life is probably a story for another time or another place.
But I do know that to everything there is a season, a time, a purpose, and a reason.
I started out with one dad…  (I wish I had more photos, but here is one with my dad and brother and cousins and aunt and grandparents – and though I look like a G R U M P – I love this picture!  Thanks Aunt Gwen!)

Dad1

I gained another Dad in the middle part of my childhood who I am eternally grateful for that was by my side during the difficult pre-teen and teenage years and that walked me down “the aisle” and supported me and helped to shape who I am today…

dadwedding

Father-Daughter Dance – April 3, 1982

And then I was so fortunate to have my birth father re-enter my life several years ago…  Who I talk to almost every day… Who has brought a whole new family into my life – who I love so much – and who all love me!

Dad3

Father’s Day 2012 – Dad, Jodi, & Marty

On top of that, I was given the gift of one of the all-time-greatest father-in-laws, who I affectionately called, “Poops.” Those that knew him know why, and oh how we all loved Pap (who we lost a little over a year ago, but think about everyday).  He loved me like his very own, and I know I am also who I am today because of him.

Dad4

Pap’s Last Father’s Day – 2012 – with Nick, Jake and Marty

So as I think about all the wonderful dads in my life, I know that I AM THE LUCKIEST!

And I want to share with you one of my all-time favorite songs (that I first heard at the wedding of a couple of cuties that I love DEARLY and am forever grateful to – and they know why!  Nikole and Michael) and for My Merv – a Great Husband AND Father.

Ben Folds’ – The Luckiest – I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Pickin’ Daisies

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daisy with oval punchIt’s Friday morning and looking like it is going to be a BEAUTIFUL weekend!

Starting to see daisies along the edge of the woods and thinking Sweet Summer Time!  Last day of school for lots of kiddos around here makes me nostalgic, so thought I’d share a little Daisy card I made, and I think I’ll surprise someone with it just to say “Hi” and “Happy Summer.”

Marty and I are excited to head to book club tonight at Joyce & Rob’s in Conneaut.  We have such a fun group and are meeting at Vacavi’s Coffee Shop with 30 other book clubber friends and the author of our book – “Bluff” by Lenore Skomal.  Guaranteed to be some interesting and intense conversation!

We’re taking the boat too, so hoping to have some fish tales from Marty and Rob and the guys to tell after tomorrow, and then  we’ll see what kind of trouble us girls can get into left to our own girl’s day!

Wishing you all a lazy daisy sweet summertime kinda weekend.

Cheers and hugs,

Jodi