And the winner is...

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Before I announce the winner of the gift certificate to Bugaboo Digi Stamps I just have to say that I can't thank you guys enough! Your kindness has been overwhelming and I just can't wait to see Sebastian's face once he has all of his cards. His mom and I have already talked about taking a picture so that you guys can see. Between the cards you all are sending and the cards from the kids and teachers at school, he really should have a hospital room filled to the brim with love.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

And now the winner is.....

Chris of Creations in Bloom!

Chris, I just need your email address to get your little goodie to you.

*** I love all of the cards that I have seen posted online and once I learn how to use those copic markers I got for Christmas you girls are in trouble! I am going to totally "card lift" all of your ideas! lol!***

Blog Trespassers!

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I've got lots of things that I wanted to tell you about today, but instead I need to tell that I made a big mistake and shared my blog with the people at work and now I may have to change my name leave the country.

Another teacher talked about the card drive we've got going for Sebastian in our faculty meeting and asked if other teachers would have their kids make cards. Everyone was so open to the idea even though they don't know him that I thought it would be nice for them to "meet" him and shared the blog link.

Yeah, I didn't think that one through very well! Stupid me thought they would read about Sebastian and move on. BUT NO! They keep reading about my life and telling me that they're doing it. They're all laughing at me and asking questions and pointing fingers. It's awful! I feel like my secret identity has been exposed and now I've lost all my super powers.

I think there were a hand full of people that knew I blogged, but they didn't know where I blogged and I liked it that way. You see, if the people I know don't know what I'm blogging about they can't tell my mom and if they can't tell my mom then I can't get grounded or disowned or placed on Santa's bad list.

The guidance counselor at my school was the only one who ever found my blog on her own. That's only because she got smart one day and started googling "orange croc guy and cute fajita delivery guy". Why do guidance counselors have to be such over achievers?

Anyway, they're all on to me now and I have to do something until they lose interest in my lack of a life and move on. I've got a couple of ideas that may work and I want to see what you guys think.

First of all, I'm thinking about adding subliminal messages to all my blog posts. I work with the best people in the whole world. They're be very subtle and you won't even know they're here. If you work at GPES stop reading this and go grade papers or something. If the messages work I won't have to keep them up for very long. GPES people should never visit this site again. I'm confident this idea will work!

One teacher was talking to me and trying to figure out which posts were real and which ones were shares from my NaNoWriMo writing. She figured out on her own that the posts in blue were fiction.

That lead me to my second idea---I can just start posting everything in blue. Blue is my favorite color after all! The problem with this idea is that I'm blonde and I'm afraid I'll get confused about what's real and what's not. Plus, I really need to use orange when I'm quoting Orange Croc Guy and red when I'm quoting the Cute Fajita Delivery Guy cause he's just so hot!

My third and last idea would be the hardest to pull off, but will probably have the fastest and most permanent results.---I could scare them away! I can get the basement ghosts from my photography class, that evil speed checker thingy from the road and my bi-polar GPS that purposely tries to get me lost to gang up on those blog trespassers. The only problem with this idea is that I may scare myself away too. Seriously, my GPS is mean!

If none of these ideas work, I'm probably going to go all federal witness protection on you guys and disappear. So, if I suddenly abandon this blog and it gets taken over by someone named Susie Mae in Wyoming or some other place that's not Miami don't worry. I promise she'll be just as pretty as I am.

Cards For Sebastian - Update

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***Sebastian's surgery has been rescheduled for March 7, 2012***

***Come back tomorrow for the girl version of this wordart***

***Sebastian's surgery has been postponed until March. I will hold the cards until then and they will be placed in his hospital room. I just can't wait to see them all!***

First of all, just let me say WOW!!! I have updated the Amazing post from Wednesday with all the links I could find that mentioned Sebastian and the card drive. Please check it out and let me know about any links I've missed. I don't want to forget to thank anyone for helping with the cards for Sebastian.

Thursday night, one of my friends suggested that I call the hospital and let them know about the card drive we're doing for Sebastian just in case cards started arriving early. I called and they were so nice, but the person I actually needed to talk to was out of the office. I left a message with my phone number explaining what we were doing and said that I just wanted to make sure cards didn't get returned to the sender if they arrived early.

Friday after school Sebastian's mom told me that she had gotten a message from the hospital saying that they needed to reschedule Sebastian's surgery. She hadn't had a chance to return the call at that point so she wasn't able to give me any details, but promised to let me know more as soon as she could. She was worried about all the kind things people are doing for Sebastian, but I assured her that everything was going to be fine. I can simply hold onto the cards untill they get another date chosen. Plus, it gives us more time to get cards for Sebastian!

I am hoping that it's just a short delay and that they will do this surgery sooner rather than later for Sebstian and his mother. I'll let you know as soon as a date is set and promise that pictures will be posted of Sebastian with all the cards he receives.

On Monday morning, if I haven't heard anything from the hospital, I'll be calling them again. I have seen the adorable cards you've posted on your blogs and I want to make sure none of them get lost.

I also have to let you know that cards have already started arriving for Sebastian at school and it is so exciting! I will try my best to keep you updated on them as they come in. So far we've gotten cards from...

Susan in Santa Ana, CA
Betty in Placerville, CA
Beverly in Grabil, IN
Charlene in Canada
Laura in West Chester, PA
Tim in Brighton, MI
Michele in Maple Valley, WA
Sherry in Minneapolis, MN
The Bakers in Pittsville, WI
G. Wicks in Norman, OK
The Pollexs in Leesburg, FL
Donna in New Middletown, OH
De Quetta in West Fargo, ND
Emily in North Reading, MA
Julie in Glendale, AZ
The Torstensons in Gilbert, AZ
Erin & Ben in Nevada City, CA
Carolyn in Norwalk, IA
Shelia in Oskaloosa, IA
The Shears in Buckley, WA
G. Passow in DeKalb, IL
The Christensons in Brigham City, UT
Jen's Craft Corner in Norton, MA
Ros in the United Kingdom
Amy in Maple Valley, WA
R. Salamon in San Diego, CA
The Gustafsons in Cotati, CA
T. Matheson from Charlotte, NC
Patti in Sacramento, CA
L. Darda in Winamac, IN
Jessica in Clarence Center, NY
R. Miller in Visalia, CA
The Zoo in Brea, CA
The Rothekers in Elkhart, IN
M. Gigliottti in Coconut Creek, FL
Christine in Birmingham, England
R.D. Henry in Hyde Park, NY
The Wolfes in Nashville, TN
Carmen in Miami, Florida
Carolyn in Martinsville, IL
North Miami Beach Senior High School
Scott Rakow Youth Center
Greynolds Park Elementary School
Karen in California
Virginia in Canada
Nancy in Birmingham, AL
The LaBombards in Midland, TX
The Nelsons in St. George, UT
The Eschs in Clarence Center, NY
Kristy in Burbank, IL
Vanneska in Hallandale, FL
The Eltons in Stow, Ohio
Elaine in Vancouver, WA
The Johnsons in Stafford, MO
The Gregors in Oak Creek, WI
Wanda in Ridgewood, NY
The Ashers in Franklin, NC
Shauna in Preston, ID
Amy in Manson, WA
L. Seabrook in Port Alberni, British Columbia
Alice in San Jose, CA
Betty in Mexico
Shahrul in Malaysia
Mellisa in Hammond, LA
The Crumps in Flemingsburg, KY
Jessi in Canada
Cathie in Canada
Mary in Holmes Beach, FL
Virginia in Placentia, CA
Jo Ann in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Valda in Rio Rancho, NM
Theresa in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Yvonne in Singapore
Kelly in Ladera Ranch, CA
J. Goff in Pompano Beach, FL
Melissa in Scottsdale, AZ
Lauri in Germany
Sandie in Annapolis, MD
Judy in Edgemoor, SC
Delores in Gibsonville, NC
Anne-Marie in the United Kingdom
The Murphys in Murphy, NC
Donna in Copenhagen, Denmark
Mrs. Ingram in the United Kingdom
K. Clifford in Canada
Linda in Fayetteville, GA
The students and teachers at Dorado Academy in Puerto Rico
Jennifer in Sherwood, Oregon
Nyree in Waterbury, CT
Amanda in Burnsville, MN
April in Waxahachie, TX
Linda in Fayetteville, GA
Janine in Tucson, AZ
Margie in Williamston, SC

There was a care package from Linde in Waunakww, WI, The Wheater Family in Monroe, NC, our school librarian, The Schilling Family in Jeffersonville, IN, Chris in Elkhart, IN, Ana in Miami, Florida, Sherry in Santa Fe, Texas, one from a volunteer at my school and one from the teacher across the hall.


There are also cards from England, Monroe, North Carolina, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Cuba City, Wisconsin, Australia, Canada, Indianapolis, Palm City, Florida and several others from right here in Miami.

Plus there are cards being made by children in our school, another local elementary school, the local high school and a high school in Riviera Beach, Florida

You guys are the best and I can't wait to see what comes in the mail on Monday!

The Story of Me part 27

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September 2, 1996

It had been almost a month since the Harrisons had taken Harmony in and while things seemed to be going smoothly they couldn’t help but feel that Harmony was constantly walking on egg shells around them. She had always been a quiet girl but she had withdrawn even further into herself since losing the lady she had grown to love and called Grandma Pat.

School was starting and they tried to get her excited about it, but Harmony didn’t like school. The fact that she would be going to a different school than the one she had been attending didn’t seem to make her like it any more or any less. School just was not her thing.

Mary Harrison had gotten up extra early to shower, dress and make a special first day of school breakfast for Harmony. Harmony barely touched the food on her plate and seemed less than thrilled with the new pink dress that had been chosen as her first day outfit and the matching book bag and lunchbox.

Gene Harrison drove the car the four blocks to school as his wife talked nonstop about how much she had loved third grade and was sure Harmony would too. Harmony sat in the backseat without saying a word.

There were no available parking spaces in front of the school so Gene let Harmony and his wife out of the car. Mary was to walk Harmony into the building while Gene circled the block. He would pick her up when he came back around.

Mary held onto the trembling hand of the scared little girl as they walked into the building and searched for room 26. Harmony said nothing as they walked into the class and saw the other kids sitting at tables talking to each other.

“Hi. I’m Max Rodriguez. Welcome to my third grade grade classroom.” He smiled and extended his hand to Harmony.

Harmony looked at Mary uncertainly and it wasn’t until after she saw Mary smile and nod her head that she reached out to shake the man’s hand.

“This is Harmony. She’s a little shy and she’s brand new to this school.” Mary explained.

“That’s ok, last year I was new at this school too.” Mr. Rodriguez said. “I was a little scared on my first day, so I understand how you feel.” He smiled at Harmony, but she lowered her head and stared at the floor. “I tell you what, why don’t you look around the room and pick the table you would like to sit at. I bet you’ll make friends in no time.”

Harmony looked at Mary who smiled. “It’s ok. I’ll be here to pick you up after school. We’ll go for ice cream and you can tell me all about your first day.”

Harmony quietly walked further into the room and sat in the first empty chair she saw. It was at a table with three other girls. Mr. Rodriguez and Mary Harrison watched from the door. “She’ll be fine.” He promised Mary as she sadly turned and exited the room.

Be Mine by Shel Belle Scraps

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Here's another cute kit for you from Shel Belle Scraps just in time for Valentine's Day. The kit is called Be Mine and it has 23 papers, 51 elements and two alphas. I love the mixture of pink and brown in this kit. It's perfect for scrapping pictures of everyone you love. Take a look at the preview...

Here's a layout that I put together...

I've also got a cluster freebie for you. Just click on the preview to get the download...

Head over to Shel's blog for more layout inspiration.

All About Me by Nibbles Skribbles

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Nibbles Skribbles has been a designing freak lately and that's ok because each kit is cuter than the one before! Today's new release is called All About Me and it's actually a collab with Scrappy Cocoa. Take a look at the preview...

They are going to be hosting a new challenge on The Studio blog that's all about journaling and this kit is the kick-off kit. It's a huge kit and the colors are gorgeous! It's perfect for all kinds of layouts. Here's one I made...

Check out the Nibbles Skribbles and Scrappy Cocoa blogs for more layout inspiration.

Amazing!

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AMAZING! Amazing is the word my friends and co-workers have used to describe you guys all day. They are amazed at how you're reaching out and helping with the card drive for Sebastian. Personally, I'm not surprised at all. You see, the secret that I know and they don't is that crafters are the BEST people in the whole world.

I learned that Amy of Tsuruta Designs has offered up a challenge to her blog readers and is offering the chance to win a $25 gift certificate for anyone who sends a card and blog about the card drive. You can find the details here.

Why would she do this? Why would someone who lives on the other side of the country and has never met me or Sebastian go out of their way to help insure he has cards waiting for him on the 15th? Because she is a crafter and crafters are the BEST people in the whole world!

Politicians should become crafters. The world would be a better place!

Amy, I tried to email you but my computer wouldn't let me. It said something about the "default mail client" not being installed and then it laughed at me. (really!) Please send me an email! I have a thank you gift for you and would love to help pay for the gift certificate you're giving away as part of your challenge.

As I find the blog posts you're all making to help spread the word about Sebastian's card dirve I'm printing them out for his mom. She is saving them for Sebastian. Isn't that a wonderful thing to be able to add to a child's scrapbook?!?!

Please, let me know if you've posted on your blog. I don't want to miss anyone. Plus, Orange Croc Guy has kicked in some money to have another gift certificate give away here. If you would like the opportunity to win a $30 gift certificate to Bugaboo Digi Stamps just post about the card drive for Sebastian and leave a link here for me. I'll pick a winner on Sunday.

Sebastian is a big Justin Bieber fan and on Saturday I tweeted the link to my blog post to him. (Yes, my friends are still laughing at me for that one!) I figured I had nothing to lose ~ either he would read it or he wouldn't. I'm guessing he didn't since he hasn't tweeted me back. lol!

If you're on twitter and aren't too embarrassed to tweet Justin, please do. Maybe he'll answer you. lol!

Because I just can't say it enough ~~~ THANK YOU!


UPDATE:

Here are blogs I've found that posted about the card drive for Sebastian. Please let me know if I've missed yours or if you know of others I've missed.

1. Tsuruta Designs
2. Paper and Ink Playground
3. Gifts from deeyll
4. Chick n Scrap
5. Lauren's Creative
6. Jen's Craft Corner
7. Daizeefli's Flower Patch
8. My Little Slice of Bliss
9. Do More With Less
10. Homemade Cards by Erin
11. Creepy Glowbugg
12. It's All Rosie
13. Scrapcat Cards by Linda
14. Scrappin Rabbit Designs
15. My Happy Place
16. Sherry Gardner ~ Life is Good
17. Jen Shears Designs
18. From My Bungalow
19. Scrappy Pink Corner
20. Sylvia's Stamp Corner
21. Such Pretty Canvas
22. Arty Scrappy
23. Miller's Ink
24. Fresh Squeezed Designs by Ryann Salamon
25. Creations in Bloom
26. The Bald Dragonfly
27. Button Junkie
28. Yes, Virginia
29. Life with the Tucker and Wolek Clan
30. Cheryl June Girl
31. Paper Daydream
32. Cards Friends and Angels
33. Alice's Little Wonderland
34. Seabrook Designs
35. One Crafty Mama
36. Twin 2u2 Designs
37. ScrapClose2The Heart
38. Just Add Glue To

And Facebook postings that I know of...

1. Shelly
2. Karen Azeka Ladd
3. Susan Pearson
4. Sebastian's Mom