Lollygag

Top 5 Favorite "Views"

I need to get back to blogging about my trip! Last night I was working on a project for the Scrap That Moment design team and I got these pictures together. I made a mini book of my top 5 favorite views while on vacation.

I can't show you the final project just yet but I will show you the pictures I used!
I'll explain each picture starting at the top working left to right:
1. The view from atop "La Colline Du Chateau" looking out over the port where the cruise ships were docked. Everything was so beautiful in Nice, France. Or as some would call it "The Cote d' Azur".

2. You all probably know this one, Westminster Abbey. Photos inside weren't allowed so this one outside will always remind me of what this place is all about. There's over 3,000 memorials inside.

3. At the bottom of the Eiffel tower. Didn't fool anyone with that one either! When we were waiting in line to go up the elevator I told my mom how cool it'd be if we were there when they turned the lights on. And we were! This place is breathtaking as it is but being there at dusk when the lights were switched on was very special.

4. The view from the top of Basilica San Marco. Standing there overlooking the people in the piazza and the columns of San Marco and San Teodoro was the total Venice experience for me. I've seen these columns before in movies shot in Venice but to see them in real life was amazing.

5. And the last one is inside Notre Dame. Mom and I sat inside there for probably 45 minutes just looking at the architecture. The ceiling, the windows, etc. I remember studying it in my Art History classes but to actually see it before me was so much better. It was dark inside yet it had a very calming effect.

I'll be sure to post my mini-album once it's posted at STM for our December sponsor . . . Sakura pens!
More pictures are coming. Remember, I took over 1300 and this is only 5!

Gratitude

I'm feeling much better these days. I've had some time to think and talk things over with my mom and dad. Thank you to everyone that sent their condolences. It's nice to know you all care. I'm blessed with wonderful friends.

I heard someone talking about Oprah's gratitude journal and it got me thinking. I'm going to periodically write about what I'm thankful for. Even if it's just the little things. What a perfect time to start . . . right around Thanksgiving.

The big ones:
Family
Health
Friends

And the little things:
Chuck took me to the mall and bought me iLife '06 for no reason yesterday.
my little space heater in my studio so I don't freeze
getting to go to Fairmont Antiques with Amanda
kitty hair on my sweater cause that means I've been cuddling with Kona

On another note, I found this article in Martha the other day. Rubber stamping . . . on your cookies! Don't know if I have any stamps that are clean enough that I'd want to try this. But I could always go buy one or two new!
Check it out:

Untitled

Don't really know what to title this post. I've got some things on my mind and I want to talk about them.
My mom called early yesterday morning with some "devastating news". My heart sunk to the bottom of my gut as the words came out of her mouth. She wanted to let me know that my Grandpa had unexpectedly died. My Grandpa who is still pretty young in my opinion, healthy and very active. The same man that helped my Dad while he was building his house last February. The house that was right next door to my Grandpa so Dad could head south away from the Nebraska winters and spend time with his father.

Whew . . . now I have tears in my eyes. While I am very saddened at the loss of my Grandpa I think I feel more sad for my Dad. He's worked hard for so long and just within the last couple of years he's been able to spend the winters away and enjoy them with his Dad.
Nobody expected something like this happening. Then again, who does? I think that's the other thing that's really getting to me too. I didn't get to say goodbye or "I love you", or "thank you". Why do I seem to take people or relationships for granted? I have so many friends that I don't get to see as much as I used to. I keep planning phone calls, or get togethers in my head but rarely take the initiative to set them up. Why? I have the lame excuse of being too busy. Yep, pretty ashamed to say it too.

So I guess I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said before. "Don't take your loved ones for granted, spend time with them now, let them know you love them." Well I'm going to take this to heart right here and now. I'd love to have the time to make them a beautiful handmade card but if I feel I'm too busy to do it what's stopping me from buying one and getting my thoughts down in writing? I always feel I have to spend hours on something to make it meaningful. Not true! I can march into Hallmark and buy one instead. It's the thought that counts!
I'm going to pick up the phone more too. What's the deal with me? As a teenager I used to get in trouble for being on the phone all the time.

Thanks for listening to my crazy emotional thinking. It helps to write about it.
If you have a quick sec, please say a prayer for my dad and his sisters. I sure wish I was with him right now to give him a big hug. He means the world to me. I don't like knowing that he's hurting.
Love ya dad.

Trip Recap: London

I'm back! It sure has taken me a bit to get back into the swing of things.
To start off we came home a day later than planned because the airlines cancelled one section of our flight. The flight from Amsterdam to Minneapolis to be exact.
And on the last couple days of the trip I could feel myself getting a cold and by now it's full blown. Yuck!
So other than those two minor complications we had no problems to speak of. Mom and I were very thankful that things went so smoothly.

To start off my trip recap we'll begin with London. Mom and I got into London Gatwick airport and took the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station. I'm so glad I researched this before I left. We got off the plane, got our luggage, went through customs, and then hopped on the train. Our hotel (Thistle Victoria) was right next to the train station. Perfect location.
When we walked into our room I was a little disappointed. I think my exact phrase was, "If this is a 4 star hotel I'd hate to see what a 3 star one looks like!". The carpet was worn and the couch was old and frayed. To top it off we had two twin beds! Mom and I laughed it off and didn't make a big deal out of it. I needed to remember how old the building was and that we were there to go sight seeing!

They did however have the cutest little teamaking setup. We had an electric teapot in our room and a tray with all the fixins. The maid stocked it daily with tea, biscuits, and hot chocolate.

In London we took a day tour and saw Westminster Abbey (my favorite), The London Tower, drove by Buckingham Palace, saw the Tower Bridge (some may call it London Bridge), the London Eye, and the Millenium Bridge. We saw the Horse Guards Parade changing of the guard since they weren't doing it at Buckingham palace the day we were there. We also took a short cruise on the river Thames around evening time. We had such a sweet and knowledgeable guide. Her name was Avril and she did a wonderful job.

London was wonderful and the weather was just perfect. Not too cold or hot. We kept thinking it might rain but it never did. Of course we didn't get to see it all. Not even close. There were many museums and stores I'd like to check out if we went back.
I had a "London day by day" book from Frommers and it had a listing for the most economical afternoon tea at a hotel called the Basil street hotel. Mom and I hopped on the Underground and headed in the general direction. We stopped at the Science Museum first. On our way out we asked the info desk about directions to this hotel. They of course laughed at the way we said BASIL. "You silly Americans, tomAto tomatO, potAto potatO," For the rest of the trip I'd ask mom if she wanted any BASIL on her food etc. and we'd just laugh.

We were in London two days before we hopped on the train to Paris. We had a great time but of course were excited to continue the journey.
I'll add a photo album on the side with more London pictures. For the whole trip I ended up taking 1300! It's going to take me forever to get them processed, sized, and printed.

I'll continue the recap with the next location . . . Paris in a couple days!