This was my centerpiece from Bunco that I hosted last week at our home. Whew! Did we ever have a good time and I'm glad it's not my turn to host for another 11 months. It's kind of fun, and definitely well worth it, but alot to pull together appetizers, drinks, dinner for 12, desserts, tons of snacks and a clean house on a week night. Now I can sit back and enjoy the next rounds. I wish I could give credit to the person's blog that I saw the centerpiece on. She used a candle plate. I decided to use a silver tray and love how it reflects the glass. Now I plan to use it for all of the holidays. You probably can't quite see the small pumpkins under the glasses. Very fun.
Please don't inspect my "pumpkin cakes" too closely. I had a blast making them and playing with marzipan to make the stems "aka edible playdough".
I decided to serve mudslides. Haven't had those in years and had forgotten how yummy they are and easy too.


I was thrilled that my dear friend, Angie, drove down to sub for one of the players that couldn't make it.

Taylor was our resident photographer. She refused to go to Grandma's with the rest of the family. Let's just say it gets a little bit noisy and they would all usually rather leave for a few hours.

6 AM came really early the next morning.

I had the priviledge of working with Sandy (aka super model), of Crafty Secrets, at the Phoenix Convention Center Saturday. I am in love with her products and aparently, I'm not the only one. Her booth was, without a doubt, the most popular one there. I became very familiar with her product line. She displayed darling samples made by her fabulous design team and she sings their praises. I was able to see several samples from her talented lead designer, Vicki Chrisman. Guess how I was paid?? With her products (which was by my request).

I can't wait to play with these stamp sets. I've seen several samples made with the new vintage Halloween sets. I wasn't aware of her hardware set. My favorite piece are the little scalloped circles for hole punches. I also couldn't resist the darling bird set. The crown is for the bird. So cute!
I love their paper packs. Double sided with romantic images and I plan to work on a new calendar set for an easel with the seasonal pack.
Last, but not least, I selected two of the eight new Images and Journal Notes.

I was recently the substitute teacher for a 5th grade class. Every September, following 2001, the 5th grade classes perform at their school's patriotic class. The day I taught the class, their principal invited all the 5th graders into a small auditorium. He had chosen two books that were significant to 9/11 and the twin towers and read them to us. I was unaware of either of these stories and wanted to share them.

In the book entitled September Roses, Jeanette Winter tells the story of the memorial created by two sisters from South Africa. Here is an excerpt:

"A tribute to the memory of September 11

On September 11, 2001, two sisters from South Africa are flying to New York City with 2,400 roses to be displayed at a flower show. As their plane approaches the airport, a cloud of black smoke billows over the Manhattan skyline. When they land, they learn of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. All flights are canceled; the sisters cannot go home, and they are stranded with boxes and boxes of roses."

The story tells us that these two sisters were stranded at the airport. Planes were grounded and there were no hotel rooms to be found. Members of a local church decided to visit the airport and offer shelter to those in need at their member's homes. A church member approached these two sisters that were sitting in the airport next to boxes and boxes of fresh roses. They asked what they could do with their flowers. He drove them to Union Square where they created a rose memorial in the shape of the twin towers.
I was so touched by this story.

The second book was about Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker, who in 1974 performed a daredevil walk, including a handstand, between the twin towers. It was very entertaining. I've since googled him, read several excerpts and watched a youtube.

Good Morning Arizona is the name of my favorite Phoenix morning news show. My favorite anchor is Brad Perry.
Much to our surprise and delight, he interviewed our son, Cole, this morning at 6 am. We knew that the football team, band and cheerleaders were getting a feature, but imagine seeing your son spotlighted. We are so proud of him and it MADE MY DAY!