FANTASY FEST DAY II (part 1)

I specify that it is part one because I have so many pictures on my camera that I want to share with you!  

What an experience! We had so much fun last night. We went to a toga party at Sloppy Joe's on Duval  Street.  The first night lived up to everything I had heard about fantasy fest! LOL. A lot of weirdness a lot of nudity a lot of freaky people! 

 I did not see one problem in the entire evening. Despite all the drinking and all the partying, everyone was cordial and just out to have some fun.

I will be back this evening with some pictures of last nights toga party.

We woke up to a spectacular morning this morning. Made everyone very happy because of all the rain that we have been getting the past few days

Tbis is the view from the back porch of our condo. Just could not get any better than this.

MY FIRST DAY OF FANTASY FEST

has been totally anti-climatic! 

This is my first time at Fantasy Fest and I was really looking forward to it.  But the rain in Key West has been RELENTLESS.  Many activities were canceled today and I have been in the condo we rented since 1:30 this afternoon.  Mind you, I needed the rest and have enjoyed the reading day but I have been so looking forward to this!

The parade - which is the most important event - is not until Saturday so I am hoping the gods will see fit to take some of these clouds away but the forecast is pretty dismal.

Oh well, time to walk the walk and  "dance in the rain"!!!

The Goldfinch

It may have won a Pulitzer, but I give up on trying to force myself to read this book.  It is very very rare for me not to finish a book even if I don't like it, but I can not force myself to finish this one.  I really can't.

I don't get it.  So many people tell me they LOVED this book.  I really didn't.

FANTASY FEST 2014!!

I have lived in South Florida almost all my life and in Key Largo for 10 years but have never been to Fantasy Fest  in Key West.

It always seemed a little "much" for me!!  LOL!!!  I don't drink and it is just not fun being the only sober person on an island!!!  But this year is different.

As you guys know, our firm won our fight for the legal rights of gay men and women to marry in Monroe County. That decision is now on appeal by the State of Florida and it looks like it's going to be going to the Florida Supreme Court.  That is absolutely FANTASTIC because I KNOW we will win and then it will be legal in the entire state - not just Monroe County!!!

Our "boys" - our clients - Aaron Huntsman and Lee Jones - are the Grand Marshalls of this year's parade!!! So cool!!!  The float they will be traveling on is one huge wedding cake with them in the middle as the wedding cake TOPPER!  How cool is that???

My law partners and I will be walking by their float dressed as .... ready???..... BRIDES!  LOL!!! So much fun.  And because we will be wearing wedding dresses anyway, by partner Jessica and I will be renewing our wedding vows with our husbands.  Next month will be my 19th wedding anniversary so I guess its' time!

And who will be officiating at this wedding vow ceremony???  My brother Albert who will be dressed like Elvis!!!  Seriously... can it get any better than this????

I will be leaving for Key West tomorrow and will return on Sunday.  I will post pictures.  Wish me luck!!!

WEEK IN THE LIFE

Received my Ali Edwards Week in the Life Kit today!!!  It is so gorgeous!  Of course it is!  It is by Studio Calico!!!

I will take a picture of the kit tomorrow and post it as an update to this post.

I have not done this project before but Ali has been doing it since 2005 and has lots of pictures of each and every year.  No lack of ideas or inspiration!

The project starts October 27 but I am thinking that I am going to use it starting this Sunday, the 19th.  I will be out of town at a friends' house this coming weekend and then from October 22-26 I will be in Key West at Fantasy Fest!  I have never been to Fantasy Fest but know it is a CRAZY event.  Our firm rented a condo in Key West for that week and it will be a great time.  If nothing else, I will have LOTS to write about and TONS of pictures!!!  I think it will make a FANTASTIC Week in the Life!

I have to see whether or not that will work.  I would like to use it for that week.

Let's see how it goes!

I LOVE KATHY ORTA!!

Not only is she amazingly talented but she has got to be the most generous woman I have ever known.  If you are not a member of her kit club you are missing out!!!  You would not BELIEVE what she includes in her kits!!!!!

Woo HOO!!!!!

Greg Isles Does It Again

I love this author and have always wished he had more books out.  I just finished reading Natchez Burningand I cannot tell you how fabulous this book is!!

READY TO PLAY!!!

End of the long weekend….. but what a great weekend it has been!  I haven't left my house but finally have my studio to where I am happy to play in it!!!

I got the studio organized, my stamps organized, my project life organized, completed my 2013 December Daily……

Yep!  A good weekend!

FEELING SO ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

I ordered Ali Edwards' December Daily kit.  I ordered it for the first time last year and love it.  Just one little issue to deal with…….

I had not finished the December Daily from LAST YEAR!!  LOL!!!  I had all my writing in the journal (I give myself brownie points for that!), some cards but no pictures or embellishments yet!  I had ordered some pictures last year but had not put them int he journal yet.

Thankfully, I had it all in a basket.  I pulled the basked out today, printed some more picture on my Canon CP-910 Selphy (a MUST HAVE, by the way) and voila!!!  I finished my 2013 December Daily!!!  I have to do the cover and I'm done!  I will update the post when I get it done.  Feeling good about this!!!

Now…… how do I want to do the cover????????

ORGANIZING MY CLEAR STAMP

I am in heaven.  I love the new organization of my studio and am having a blast putting it together!

This will look amazing when it's done.   I am going to label the stamps (Card Sentiments, PL, Ali Edwards, etc.).  I have also added the small dies in these little bags and placed them in the container.  And the beauty of it THE TRAY FITS PERFECTLY IN THE IKEA RASKOG!!!

One part of me wants to just leave all this and start making some PL layouts but I know that once this is done, doing those layouts will be so much more pleasurable!!!  When things are organized and out in the open you USE them.  Or at least that's the theory!!  LOL!!!

Have a great Sunday everyone.  It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Key Largo and I hope it is where you are also.

UPDATE:

Look how FABULOUS they look with white card stock in the bags!!  HAPPY PLACE......!!!!!!
The ones with the black card stock are the masks that are clear so they need the black card stock to be visible.

Such simple things can make us happy!!  LOL!!!

STUDIO CALICO

I cannot say it often enough, I absolutely adore Studio Calico!  I am still organizing my studio today.   \All of these things in this picture were included in one of the card kiss and one of the scrapbook kits from studio calico!! How amazing is this?

An Update on my Project Life Organization and My Studio!!!

It has been 6 months since I have moved into my new house and about 3 and a half since I have started organizing my studio.  The task was monumental and I really felt discouraged at times because it seemed like it just would NEVER come together.  But we are almost there!!

Earlier today I posted about how I was organizing my Project Life Kits....  This is an update on both the organization of the Project Life kits and of my studio!

I have not been able to do very much in here because I just can't focus with the mess!!!  But I actually think I will be able to play this weekend!!!  Two whole days to just sit and play.  Can't wait!

Organizing Project Life Kits

I have spent the day organizing my project Life Kits from Studio Calico and Cocoa Daisy.  LOVE these kits!!!  If you have these you need nothing more!!!!  (A lesson I wish I could learn!!)

NEW TOY!!!

I finally got my Go Pro video camera! I've been wanting one of these for a while. Can't wait to set it up!

COSTUME DAY

Costume day for Maddie and Savannah

What's going on right now....... IN EVERY DAY LIFE

Here is what is going on right now in my every day life:

1.  I have been sick for a week.  Can't seem to get out of bed.  Tired of it already.

2.  Have not done so many things that are on my todo list.

3.  Have not printed out my Project Life pictures like I promised  myself I would.

4.  Have not walked into my studio in at least 10 days despite promising myself I would spend at least an hour a day on ME TIME.

5.  Finished reading NACHEZ BURNING by Greg Iles.  800 amazing pages!

6.  Feeling a little overwhelmed with work.  Need to catch up.

7.  Feeling like I need a real vacation away from everyone and everything.

8.  Doing great on HerbalLife though not drinking any water!

9.  Getting excited about Keys 4 Art!

10.  Missing my Keys 4 Art peeps......

Have a great day everyone!

SNAP!!! Also a great option!

These are 6x8.  I have a few of them and I love them.

Potential Journal or Keys 4 Art

What do you think ladies?  I still think this is the best system for our retreat.  Any ideas????

I can't believe we are already planning Keys 4 Art again!!!  Every year at this time of year I get so excited just thinking of the possibilities!