Random Act of Kindness in the Mail

As most of you already know, at Christmas I received a Vagabond anonymously.  I STILL haven't gotten over that one.

Then shortly after, I received some dies from my friend Eileen Bellomo and another gift in my Paypal account from a friend (she wanted to remain anonymous) that wanted me to pick up some more dies to use with my Vagabond.


Well today I was off work and look what came in the mail.  I just had to share this RAK (random act of kindness) with you from Kathy Eddy over at Inkin' It Up.  This is the beautiful handmade tag Kathy made that was on top inside the box . . .

and this is what was under the tag . . .

10 dies and a Brocade Window Embossing Folder!

Do you think I have enough to keep me busy for a couple of weeks?!  WOW Kathy - Thank you soooo much for the box of goodness!!  X O X O

RAKS, the Workshop and a Scrumptious Dinner

Before I show you photos from class today, I would like to share a package I received in the mail from my friend Eileen Bellomo from New York.  More goodies to use with my gifted Vagabond. Thank you again Eileen! . . .

And last week I received a gift (in my Paypal account) from someone that would like to remain anonymous.  They wanted me to pick up a few dies for my Vagabond.  I now have the caged bird and the #5 flower die to make roses. And the chandelier die is "in the mail".  Thank you "anonymous"!

* * *

Earlier this afternoon was my Charm Necklace workshop at Stamp Fever.  Thank you Linda Foley for having me teach at the store and a huge thank you to "TJ", Leslie G, Sallie R., Chelle, Patty F. and Karen E. for making it such a fun afternoon playing together!

Patty had so much fun at my workshop back in July at Whimzy, that she asked if she could come take it AGAIN! :) . . .

And here's Leslie again.  This time she is sporting the Alice necklace she saw in my Etsy Shop.  Thank you for your purchase Leslie! . . .

This is a package Chelle brought to class today.  I didn't open it until I got home because I wanted to get a photo of it still in the packaging.  Isn't it pretty?!. . .

This is what was inside . . .

It's a year-long calendar that is displayed easel-style.  You will see it displayed properly on my work desk for WOYWW next week :)  I just LOVE it.  Thanks again Chelle.

After the workshop, Chelle and I went to Rutabegorz in Old Town Tustin to satisfy our hunger pangs.  If you haven't been to this restaurant, there are a few additional locations in Orange County HERE.  The restaurant is based on good eating as an important part of good living.  They have the best salads around!

It's late now (at least for me it is), so I will sign off for now.  See you back here on Monday.  

Theme Thursday, Wednesday Outing and Winner of the EW&F Contest

This week the challenge on Theme Thursday is Pattern.  Well since I just finished this "controlled doodling" heart piece, I thought I would join in.  Is this enough pattern for you? *smiles*

After fighting a cold for the past several days, I finally went out on Wednesday.  I was going to meet up with Joy Kennedy (Inspiration Emporium) and Michelle Fowler for dinner at Olive Garden.  And as nice as it was to dine with these two ladies, there was another reason for us getting together.

left to right:  joy, me and michelle

nice meeting you michelle!

Joy was delivering what was in this box to me . . .

joy with "the box"

joy posing with my vagabond!

Yep, my very own - brand new - still in the box - VAGABOND!  Can you feel my excitement?  I mean REALLY, this is my first EVER die-cutting machine!  Soooo glad I waited all these years so this could be my "first" :)

But here's the KICKER!  Joy tells me that someone has gifted the Vagabond to me!  Say whaaaaat?!  A GIFT????  She said she was asked not to tell who it was from, but only that they saw that was the only thing I wanted for Christmas so they got it for me.


Wow . . . I am almost speechless (yes, ME - speechless!).  Whoever the angel was that gifted me the Vagabond, please know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I was so surprised, overwhelmed and am very thankful for such a fab-u-lous random act of kindness! 


On to the winner of my Earth Wind & Fire crossword puzzle contest (before I get all tear-eyed again!).  


The winner IS . . . LINDA HOFFMAN from Scrappin Bears' Studio!  Congratulations Linda - I am putting your surprise package together and whisking it off to you on Friday morning.  And don't worry. I already have your snail mail address :)


I'm so glad I'm off work today so I can play with my new toy!

Friday Outing With Jacki

My friend Jacki Long, that teaches A Rip-Roaring Collage workshop - (see more of her artwork HERE) came by and took me out to lunch today.  But before we left for lunch, Jacki came bearing gifts.


First was a vintage suitcase to add to my collection . . .

And check out this lap desk that Jacki found on one of her shopping excursions and gifted me.  I love how it's adjustable for reading or writing or creating.  And I love the nice size pockets on either size . . .

Ooooh, and I now own an original Jacki Long art piece!  And it's a portrait of ME . . . now how cool is THAT?! . . .

After the oohs and ahhhs, we headed over to Miguel's for a really nice lunch and then we stopped by Michael's and the Post Office.  

Good conversation . . . good food . . . fabulous gifts and just an all-around nice Friday afternoon spent with a special friend.  Thank you so much Jacki x o 

Breast Cancer Update, RAKS, Lunch and Some Shopping

Yesterday was another visit to my surgeon for a "check up" on my healing progress.  Things are progressing at a steady rate.  What I thought were pockets of fluid that had built up is actually excessive skin that needs to be removed due to where .  This means that I will need to go under the knife again in a month or so.  Without going into detail here, I'm thinking I will "interview" another surgeon for that procedure.  Other than this future surgery, I am scheduled to start physical therapy to get my range of motion in my arms back to normal and get a bone density test before I start the hormone therapy medication.


Enough of the "C" stuff.  When I returned home from my appointment yesterday, this is what was waiting for me in my mailbox.  All the way from New York was a box filled with THESE goodies from Eileen Bellomo.  First was this handmade "Stay Strong" statue which is just GORGEOUS in person! . . .

And in another package that read "Look Inside" was this note . . .

OMG, Eileen sent me "THE" t-shirt from the Tim Holtz cruise along with these four TH pins!  You can click on the photo so you can read what each was says . . .

Thank you soooooooo much Eileen!  I am just so jazzed to have received each and every one of your special RAKS.  xoxo

Also in the mail was another sweet card from Mary Joyce from a group I belong to called Scraps of Color . . .

Thank you Mary Joyce for continuing to keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I continue on this journey to kick cancer's butt *smiles*

And how could I forget to share my lunch with you from yesterday?  My cousin Pam drove from Altadena to come and take me to my doctor appointment in Newport Beach.  


Afterwards we went to The Cheesecake Factory across the street at Fashion Island.  We must have stayed there for almost 3 hours laughing and talking and listening to the piped in music - which sounded like it could have been from my blog's music playlist! One of the dishes that we shared . . .

Salmon . . .

My cousin Pam sipping on her (now favorite drink??) a dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives and my after lunch Mexican coffee drink . . .

 And if all of THAT wasn't enough for a simply fab-u-lous lunch? . . .

Yep, we both got cheesecake for dessert!  Now mind you, we couldn't possibly eat these after the lunch we just had, so we got these "to go" *smiles*.

And after a lunch like that, we just HAD to walk around Fashion Island and do a little shopping right?  So we stopped in Anthropologie (of course!)

And although I had heard of this store, I always thought it was strictly for "the younger set".  But my cousin set me straight and I ended up getting several scarves and a little bag that was all under $60 total at Forever 21 . . .

I didn't make a boot purchase yesterday, but I can tell you that boots are REALLY in over at Nordstrom!  I'm thinking I'll have to check out Nordstrom RACK for a chance at getting some better prices.

Today?  Rest? *smiles*

Another Workshop and Scratch & Sniff

Saturday I spent a few hours in Old Town Tustin at Whimzy teaching three ladies - Kat, Pame and Katherine how to create charm necklaces using Fragments . . .
Creative chaos . . .

Collaging . . .

Dianne giving me "the eye" as I snap photos around her store.  Thanks for playing hostess Saturday! . . .

Sheryl wasn't able to play hostess today, but she still made time to leave some of her homemade cookies.  Photos? Sorry - cookies all gone!  Thank you Sheryl for my personal bag of cookies and cute card :)


Ready for Christmas? . . .

I always have a great time hanging out here . . .

I wish you could "scratch & sniff" your computer screen to smell these wonderful gifts I received in the mail from Linda Ledbetter when I returned home from Whimzy yesterday!


Bath Salts - 2 HUGE jars and Body Butter.  But not just any ole bath salts and body butter, Check out the LABELS!  OMG if this isn't special!  Oooooh, and the candle is just Heavenly . . .

And that's not ALL.  Check out the Warrior Woman Spa Body Scrub.  Ohhhh yes, I will be treating myself to THIS today! . . .

And my hair will just LOVE the Warrior Woman Spa Hair Oil . . .

I'm all set for my in-home spa treatment today!  

But WAIT, there's MORE!  This is a book that Linda made me to keep my musings in and a simply GORGEOUS card that was included as well.  Ooooh, Linda you have brought the biggest smile to my face.  I just love it ALL!  Thank you Thank you Thank you!

And as I looked further in the box, I found THIS gorgeous (handmade of course!) card from Hels Sheridan over at Ink on my Fingers!  Thank you so much Hels.  You have been by my side (albeit miles away) since the beginning of my journey . . .

And I received another book in the mail from my friend Dianne in Chicago by one of my all-time favorite authors (may he rest in peace), E. Lynn Harris . . .

What a nice way to end the day on Saturday and what an even NICER way for me to start my Sunday with all my "Spa Goodies"!  


Gotta run . . . the SPA is calling.  :)