Catching up and Some Cards

*If you are here to look at some cards, please scroll to the end of the post.*

Hi Everyone,

Ok, so I'm blogging today, mostly just because I've been busy and distracted for most of February, and I haven't been very chatty.  So, for those of you that want to be in touch, here's the scoop :)

I've been reading a lot. 

Unbroken was the book we discussed at the Feb. meeting of my book club. It's pretty long and filled with lots of detail, but this man survived unbelievable hardships. He is amazing.

Sarah's Key is our book club pick for March.  It's another story about WWII that's told woven around a woman's modern day story.  I was worried. We just read a WWII story, but this was quick and sucked me in right away. I would recommend it, even if the ending is not  a surprise.  You see it coming a mile away.

If you watch The Office, you know who Mindy is.  It's not a typical autobiography, it's funny and joke-y.  Kinda like Tina Fey's book, Bossy Pants.  Light and entertaining.  I read this while I read Unbroken.  You know, when I couldn't take anymore of the beatings and starvation.

The Fault in our Stars is technically a teen novel, or young adult literature. I really don't know why, other than the main characters are teenagers.  I love the way John Green writes.  It's very literary, and while this is flawed, it's GENIUS when you put it up against the popular stuff like Twilight or The Hunger Games.  I love fiction that makes you feel like the characters are real people, living in the real world, dealing with real stuff.  In fact, I LOVE his book Looking for Alaska. One of my all time favorites.  (And while I kinda hate myself for liking The Hunger Games, I'm excited to see the movie at the end of March!)

This book was given to me.  I haven't started it yet, but the reviews on Amazon are good. It's what I'm going to read next.

We're making plans for our vacation. We have our flight and hotels booked, and we have some museum tickets purchased already too.  I don't like to say when I will be away from home here on my blog, but I will tell you that I'll have some spectacular photos to show off here sometime in the future, so stay tuned.

Last year we tried to do one cultural thing each month of the year.  We're not doing so well with this resolution for 2012. 

According to Rod, since we're slacking, we're counting going to see Albert Nobbs and The Artist as our cultural events for January and February.   I don't think movies should count, even if they are independent ones up for Oscars.  Although I have to tell you that The Artist is charming and has the cutest dog EVER!

See?

However, we are going to go to the Rembrant in America exhibit at CMA.in March. I know I'm biased, but The Cleveland Art Museum it really is a great place.  

And while I'm not as old as Rembrant, I am officially old.  My new glasses are bifocals. Sigh.

I got my second card for the year published in April's issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts.  I was thrilled that it was Hambo card that I made for the "Anything but Square" call that they had. It's on page 16, but here it is:

I used the Flower Monster digi. He's just adorable.

And here is a card that got rejected.  I know, right?  Who would reject these cute little Hambo Bees?

Whatever, I love them.

And before I end this post, the challenge this week at the Hambo Hoedown is Anything Goes, so I'm gonna link up this card I made using the Flower digi.  I made it simply to build up my sad, depleted birthday card stash. 

That's it for me.  I hope you have a lovely weekend full of good stuff :)

PS-I'm too lazy to write up details for each of these cards, but if you have any questions about the products I used that I haven't provided links for, feel free to email me :)

Challenges for The Flower Monster Card:

Crafting for All Seasons-Shaped Card

Inky Impressions-Punches/Diecuts

Paper Pretties-Punches/Diecuts

Penny's Paper Crafty-Anything Goes

Digital Tuesday-Make it Sparkle

Lollipop Crafts-Anything Goes

Nettie G's-Anything Goes

Truly Madly Crafty-Ribbon and Bling

Challenges for The Bee Happy Card:

Paper Shelter-Add a Sentiment

Penny's Paper Crafty-Anything Goes

Truly Scrumptious-All Creatures Great & Small

Whimsy Inspriation-Monochromatic

Celebrate the Occassion-Thinking of You

Lollipop Crafts-Anything Goes

Nettie G's-Anything Goes

Stamps R Us-Anything Goes

There She Goes-Animals

Challenges for the Flower Trio Card:

Little Darlings-Pearls

Penny's Paper Crafty- Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp-3 Different Papers

Sisterhood of Crafters-Use a Digi

Bunny Zoe-Celebrations

Incy Wincy-Birthday

Karen's Doodles-Celebrate

Lollipop Crafts-Anything Goes

Nettie G's-Anything Goes