Sale-A-Bration!

One of my long time Indiana Stampin' Up! customers/friends, who is actually the one that kept suggesting that I do a blog (and I'm glad she did!), has told me that she's disappointed that I don't have anything stamping related on my blog yet. I told her that my stamping business is on the back burner right now while we're building our house which for us, since we don't have kids, is probably going to be about the most exciting thing we do, and we want to enjoy every minute. Plus we'll probably be living in this house the rest of our lives so we need to get it right, really think things through and check everything. She then suggested that I post something stamping related weekly. I said that I could, and should, do that.

So this week's post is to promote Sale-A-Bration which starts tomorrow, Feb. 1, and is the biggest and most popular sale we have every year. When a customer orders $50 or more, they receive a free product! This year there is a choice of 4 nice size stamp sets, a ribbon package or a designer series paper package. With our new catalog just out, it's a great time to order some of the new items and receive a free gift! Many of you will be receiving the Sale-A-Braton booklet from me in the mail early next week (they are mailed out on Stampin' Up!'s timing, not mine). Or, check my web site (in the upper right on this site). Beginning tomorrow you should be able to see the brochure online. It's also a great time to have a party with your friends in your home. There are extra Hostess benefits during SAB depending on your sales. At these parties, I usually demo about 4-5 stamping techniques and then let everyone make one project. These extra benefits also apply for book parties. You can order by contacting me or at your convenience online from my web site 24/7.

The UPS man finally asked me yesterday what Stampin' Up! is after delivering many of their boxes here. :) So for those of you that may not know, I sell rubber stamps in many categories (flowers, nature, sports, holidays, etc.) and teach people how to use them with the accessories that go with them (markers, punches, watercolor crayons, pastels & much more) to make beautiful greeting cards, scrapbooks, gifts and more! One of my first customers in Indiana sent me a Christmas card one year saying "thank you for showing me I can". She had never found a craft that she could do or liked until she found stamping. She is very good at it and enjoys sending lots of cards to people. Many churches have groups of ladies that get together to make handmade cards for those who are sick, etc. It's a relaxing & rewarding hobby and we say cheaper than a therapist! Check out my Creative Projects on my web site (above) to see some examples of stamped items - and also our new line of wall decor.

I have monthly classes in our home and also do home parties. The company is in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been in business 20 years, and I've been an Independent Demonstrator with them for 13 years this month! If you'd like to add another blog to your list to read, go to www.soshelli.com and read the Stampin' Up! owner's blog - Shelli Gardner.

Walls & Basement Windows!

The crew showed up today to hang the sheet rock! We've heard they may be done by Sun.! They worked until about 8:00 tonight - wow! This is the wall of the kitchen that the refrig. & stove will be on.




Wall by the front door. The short opening is a coat closet that they haven't cut all the way out yet.







Mark put in these basement windows this morning and then he and helpers finished the west side of the garage siding.






This is one of the egress windows.




Family info. - Grandpa R. would've been 100 today.

Sheetrock is here

The sheetrock arrived this morning. It took 2 guys over 2 hours to unload it - through the office window (next picture). The plan now is that it will start going up on Mon.



I'm headed to Poky to pick up our new microwave. Greg is going to work on the venting for it tonight. The flooring store called and said the hardwood I picked out has been discontinued so I'll need to go there to pick out another one. Then to Pilates. With a Stampin' Up! delivery on the way.

Bill and Tim are hauling corn to the elevator today and having to fix various little things on the semis. It's 20 today but it's now windy so feels COLD.

Chicken Pot Pie

It was - 2 here this morning going up to 20 by 6 pm - but it's sunny with no wind! No workers at the house yet but Mark & Scott are coming later to work on siding if/when it warms up some.

I have this Chicken Pot Pie in the oven for lunch. It's easy and quick to make - and a good way to get Bill to eat more vegetables! Also a good way to use up leftover chicken from the whole chicken crock pot recipe!

CHICKEN POT PIE

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 c. cooked chicken
1/2 c. milk
1 egg
1 c. baking mix such as Bisquick

Preheat oven to 400. Mix soup, vegetables and chicken. Spoon into a 9 inch pie plate. Mix together milk, egg, and baking mix. Pour over chicken mixture. Bake 30 min. Makes 4 servings.

Bill's New Toy & More Siding

By request, here's the new toy/Bill & Tim's Christmas present! Bill was working on the snow blower in the shop today so had to pull this out.






Bill wanted me to be sure to say that the grain tank extensions are down.







I love it when enough siding is on to get more shutters put up.








This is the south side that is now done. The front is all that's left.
I went to Pocahontas this morning to buy our appliances (refridg., microwave and stove) and had a fender bender. I'm not used to some of their streets where one direction has to stop but the other one doesn't! In Carmel we had mostly 4 way stops (or roundabouts!)! I have $1200 damage to the right front corner of the Pilot and the other car had more. We were both going slow so no one was hurt and it could've been worse!

Winter Birthdays

Sat. we went to Lacey's birthday party in the evening, and I went to a birthday tea for Stephanie in the afternoon. Friend Terri, loves to make fancy little finger foods and does it so well. Stephanie's favorite color is pink so all gifts were pink and many wore pink (I didn't think of that).

Lots happening over at the house this morning. Siding is going up and the plumbers and electricians are here. It was 8 deg. when we got up and cloudy - but with all the snow, it's still bright out.