*SQUEE*

In less than 24 days Racheal - my BFF from England and basically my almost relation/sister/homie/HPfangirly - will be making her annual visit to me and the puggy! I love it when she visits because a) we have SO MUCH fun when she is here! b) she brings British KitKats c) we geek out about Procurement and the lot. d) major HP fangirly - need I say MORE?! Lol. e) Movie geek just.like.me. f) did I mention she brings British Kit Kats? :) Also bless her, she will go through my family gathering called Turkey Day.

This year we are still planning *what to do* but we are both craft crazy! She is an amazingly talented painter and we are both quite excited about taking a copic marker class. Yes. We. Are.GEEKS. And we are proud of that moniker. Hence that means loads of classes, crafting, shopping for crafts(they are EXPENSIVE in the UK), shopping for everything else besides crafts(hello! exchange RATE!), eating, watching movies, talking, gossiping, meeting friends... the LIST GOES ON.

I mean, I am still kinda in shock that we will be on holiday for like 2 weeks! She is use to a 2 week holiday - but for me it takes a bit getting used to. lol. Also we are going to be having a staycation! YEA! I am seriously thinking of ordering a cord of wood for the house because I can just imagine MANY fires in the fire place with us drinking PLENTY of hot cocoa. Now all it has to do is snow! I have never had a snowed in holiday before - I think that would be sorta fun. usually I am the first one to blow out the drive way - but to be snowed in? WAY FUN. My house and backyard are SO pretty when it snows.

Okay that is sad. It is not even the end of October and I am wishing for snow! Really I shouldn't wish it -because I am the one taking care of said snow! lol.

Anyways - I had to share the following because it is just so funny that was sent to me from Ms. Rach! Folks -if you are not used to British Humor... this is considered a joke. :) I am still cracking up over the "ize" and the "nancies". Also, I gave her a challenge thought - of COURSE it is called the World Series - WE (ie the USA) invented BASEBALL! So it is our little world - okay?! *chuckle* Anyways - I hope you enjoy it! HUGS Nan

To the citizens of the United States of Americafrom Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth IIIn light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Alsaka, which she does not fancy).Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:-----------------------1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-'ise.'Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').------------------------2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S .English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'-------------------3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.-----------------4.You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.----------------------5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.----------------------6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.--------------------7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.-------------------8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.-------------------9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.---------------------10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.---------------------11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).---------------------12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America . Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.--------------------13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.-----------------14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).---------------15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.God Save the Queen!

ghosties got a home

The Ghosties have found a home! I made a little hanging for my sister. I added a bow with two funky strands. I hope the glow in the dark thread works! Oh I love doing stiching... I swear it is so relaxing. I can't wait to crack into some other patterns!

Sorry for the wonky pictures.

on my finished apron...

Made my atc's for New Moon swap! I love the different covers that are shown on Stephenie Meyer's site... so I always seem to make the ATC's reflect that. Harry Potter also had similar spread - and I find it so interesting what the other countries think of the books.

This is one of three covers from Japan...

*sigh* must get to bedddyyy.... Hugs! Nan

back to ikea i go and randomness

Who would have thunk it. IKEA HAS FABRIC! *flail* ohhh this is bad. But that is not why I have to go back to Ikea...

Looks like Aine didn't like her new bed. Back to Ikea i go. Also, for some reason the top part is not "attaching" hence... not good for a bouncing puggy. I guess she will have to get used to the carpet or floor. oh wait. I guess my lap is going to do. *sigh*

How does one figure out what ATC cards to do for New Moon? Via Velvet MOON! LOL.

Oh and people have been asking me two things ---

how to make pumpkin bread....
2/3 cup soft margarine
2 2/3 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin
2/3 cup of water
3 1/3 cups of flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

Preheat oven 350 degrees
Butter the bottom of two bread loaf tins
Mix shorting and sugar good
Add eggs, pumpkin and water, flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder, cinnamon and cloves are slowly added to pumpkin

Divide between two tins, bake for 65-70 minutes.

Let sit for 10 minutes - it is always the best the next day!

and how to make nummy frosting

2 tablespoons of butter - creamed

1 cup to 2 cups confectioners sugar.... note! this is NOT powdered sugar - that is a totally different type of sugar. Make sure you find "confectioners" sugar.

teaspoon of vanila

some salt

some milk

hersery's powdered chocolate

Mix the butter and the sugar together, if it gets to think put some milk in it. Than mix everything else... don't eat it all! :) Remember two things - you can always add more milk to the mix and more sugar. Remember to taste because you might have to add more salt.

Okay I need to get back to it... ATC's and many other fun stuff to do...HUGS! Nan and Aine who has taken up residence on a nearby chair. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Bad Blogger am I...

Sorry Folks ... I have been a really bad blogger...work and back concerns have been making Nan a non-blogger. Will the showering of fun pictures give me forgiveness? YES?! YEA!

I have been....

... creating nummy brownies with real frosting because I am off of icecream. One bite of this chocolatey sugary goodness makes up for the icecream I am not eating. NUM!

Stiching some bibs for some of my favorite ghosties(Jack, Shellybean and a Sophie)... The below are patterns by Emily Martin of Black Apple fame...

And this pattern is from Elsie Flannigan's latest Ghost World Craft Kit. I love this KIT! Please forgive the blue ink it is still "disappearing". LOL.

Aine has been hanging out with her brothers...

received goodies from second mom and Amazon.

*finally * hung up this vintage hook that I received like 9 years ago!

And it is beginning to look an lot like xmas... I can't wait to play with these... but first I have to get my halloween cards out! :)

Next week is going to be crazy busy as WELL. I am going to training and some higher ups are comin in... oh... and my back needs to get BETTER... hence that means I am high tailing it to the chiro... *ugh* SUCKS getting old.

okay I am off to ice back. :) Hugs all! Nan

what the heck...

...is IT Procurement asks Nevis, Jodi, Gina, Cricket and Mandy?
Well. ...excellent question! And of course it is the hardest ones to explain *hugs ya all*

I wish I had a really quick easy answer for ya - but it is not that simple. LOL! IT Procurement or Sourcing ... it is a complex, multifaceted industry that is really facinating in my opinion. Heck, I have been in the industry for 10 years+!

IT stands for Information Technology. i.e. your computers, software, the services that take to install said services and said software. Basically when you think of IT, think of computers! lol


Procurement per Websters....



1. To attain possession of something, usually after exerting a substantial effort to do so. 2. The purchasing of something usually for a company, government or other organization.



So basically buying. So when Mr. Webster says "exerting a substanctial effort"... this basically means Negotiations in order to get the best deal to save your company money. How does one does that? By Strategic Sourcing. Strategic Sourcing is very fun. This is when one goes to the market to see what the heck is out there for a particular widget and/or service.

When you are in IT Procurement or Strategic Sourcing you may also do the following...

• Contracting.... Basically when you open up your Microsoft package or buy a software online? You have to "click" through - do you except the following "Terms and Conditions". That is a contract. What Terms and Conditions basically do is protect the company so that people will not steal their software... of IP(Intellectual Property).
• Supplier Management - IE Managing Suppliers.
• etc...

I would go into more details but I think I might bore ya. :)

So what is my little RAK....

No sorry not a pinkey.....



but some RIBBON and material!



Thanks everyone for playing! :) I hope you enjoy your RAK. I have loads more Ribbon, so you will get more ribbon than the material..if that makes sense? Brain is fried. :) Just send me your addys ladies!!! Hugs all! Nan

Busy busy as a pinkey BEE

I know it has been a while... it has just been SO crazy busy with work, teaching a CPM review class, taking a fun design class from Ms. Kim B. and playing with a new little PINK friend which we will get to in a second.



But first... I want to give a HUGE BIG CONGRATS to Ms. Martha B and PIXIE PIE! GET THY ALL TO MICHEALS PEEPS! Tell 'em Pixie sent ya! Martha has worked so hard on this and I am very proud of her! GO MS. MARTHA! YEA!



I mean... Aine is just rolling over with JOY about this fact! Her BFF is published! :)



So this slightly askew picture is from my new pink Iphone friend. Yes, I have pinky gel case and I am proud! Hence she has been christened Pinkey. I seriously couldn't find my previous phone AT.ALL. in my purse or my laptype case so I was like SCREW IT, we are getting something BRIGHT PINK. I am not partial to pink perse, but I had a choice between, white, black and pink - so I took PINK! :) I just say it is for breast cancer research when odd looks are given during work meetings. :) But than again... it could be the "bark" ringtone.

Like all new shiny things, it took a bit to get used to, but once you get over that hump you will LOVE IT. *sigh* My favorite apps so far are the geek worthy LightSaber - where you can pick the color, the starwars song and the star wars character for your lightsaber. SO.FUN. The next one is Zippo. Yes. you have your very own Zippo lighter remake on your iphone. I just wish I had a concert to go to now.

So it is a offical. I am a Procurement GEEK. So much so work has asked me to write two procurement company blogs and manage certain training websites for the CPM/CPSM. *squee* Yes. I squee over Procurement Geekdom. Scarry that I love what I do so much - you know? I mean...I have to... my last name is Beyer as in BUYER. Kinda kismet...don'tchya think?

So here is my challenge to you all... what IT Procurement stuff would you like to know about? For all those that ask a question, I will send ya a little RAK. :)

This is going to be a CRAZY busy weekend. I have MUCH crafting to do(...about 10 bday cards, finish my halloween cards and mail them, sewing... the list.goes on. In fact-I really need to start a list pronto, where is Pinky?!), going to see The Duchess tomorrow with some friends from work, Saturday it is Holiday Hoopla at Craft Fancy and than Sunday I will be celebrating my Aunt's 85th bday with the cousins! I can't WAIT. I am so taking pictures. I smell Mini-BOOK!

Hugs ALL and please send me your questions! :) Nan

Beauty School Dropout......

Aine a.ka. Frenchie from Grease is in the house! I am so glad this is done - whew! You know how hard it is to find good Frenchie pics on the net? HARD, let me tell ya.

Does anyone have a favorite? I now have to print out pictures so I can send out my Pug Village Halloween cards. weeeee!

It is Frenchie!Details...close up with Sublime Stiching letters.
People have been asking me about Aine's eyes... this is what they look like. :( We are thinking of going to a new vet because my old vet is under new management and I really didn't really care for the new vets..... We may be going to her brother's vet. Poor baby. Thank God it isn't bothering her but I did see her bump into a door - granted it was dark so I would bump into a door too! lol
Weee! Fun action shot!

A good Beauty School Dropout needs her nappies. It is hard singing and dying hair!




On a side note - I was baking up a storm today after work. Fall means so many things to me but the food I adore and ALWAYS make during this timeframe is pumpkin bread. This is basically the only dessert that I make that doesn't have any chocolate in it! LOL. Also I have made it into muffins as well - but today I also had to make Choc. Chip Cookies as well so no time for precise measurements except for cookies. :)

Anyways - getting back to the uber good pumpkin bread - this is the only bread I ever make. It is so nummy and the house smells so good after it has cooked. I decided to try a new flour - King Arthurs Flour. It has been rated number one so I have been dying to try it. It is a bit hard to find - I found mine at Trader Joe's. Tomorrow the goodies go to work with me so we will see what the jury says! :)

One of the best elements of this bread? The soft buttery top. *num* Unfortunately I have to wait tomorrow because it takes a day to taste really good. Also it freezes well too!

Have a great night! Me and the Pink Lady

vintage fun and stichin

I have been doing a lot of Stichin lately... GHOSTIES EVERYWHERE.... and this glow in the dark thread is fabo. I am making these for my friends who have kiddies.... Can you believe there was a kiddie with NOTHING for halloween? As in a costume? *SCANDAL* So I am going to put one of these ghosties on a tshirt and have it say... ELLA (her name) BOOOOOOOO...LOL
My mom and I decided to go to Kane County Flea market today. I came home with some vintage fun paper goodness.... Pugs, St. Nick's, Sears Catolog with amazing items to be used for scrappin, fairy tails involving candy, Bunnies and House CakeForm ... what else could a girly ask for? LOVE EM ALL. And dang did I get a deal! Who is that girl and that Dog?Nope, not mummy, but that doggy looks so like me.

What? Nothing for MOI? Asked Ms. Aine..

Close up of the English and German items.

So many FUN FUN items in the Sears Catalog!

Mom and I capped it all off at UBER GOOD GERMAN PLACE and are planning to go to Sandwich as soon as we can.

Next up for me and Ms. Aine? Currently Ms. Aine is hanging and I have LOADS of crafting to do. LOADS. I have to finish making Aine's costume, creating my halloween cards, make new bday cards, I am dying to do more stichin - I am really falling in love with it! It is so relaxing! I also FINALLY have an idea for who will get my Mr. Campy goodness! I am so excited about this! I can't wait until I am done with the finished product!

Hugs ALL Nan

ohh...

we have had a busy week...

Aine was brought to the vet to see what is up with her eyes... this highschooler of a vet said "nothing" but I am thinking about getting another opinion because I just don't trust her. She just had no bed side manner what.so.ever. *sigh*

and we are on number 2 of many ghosties....Crap cell phone picture but it is glow in the dark thread ya'all! Also I finally conquered the french knot! YEA!

On the scrappy front - way to much has been purchased. I am going to really try to *not* buy any more crafty stuff.... for at least... a... hmm... let's try for 2 weeks and see if I can make that! Lol!

This weekend will be all about my Mom! We are going to Kane County Flea Market *yea!* and I hope I can talk her into going to Voque fabrics. MUST.HAVE.WILLPOWER. I hear that the trim section is to die for... *bites nails and hides credit card!*

So that means my car has to get cleaned of pug hair and 'bucks empty cups. *sigh* I just don't have that car cleaning gumbtion ya'all! But it i either that, or put up with my mom's driving... I think I will get the dust buster.... :)