MAC

No time for pictures

Just need to tell you that I am writing to you

from my brand new computer!

I have a MAC!!!!

Finally!!!

A dream come true!!!

Michael bought me a new computer....

I wish I knew what I was doing

(I sort of do)

I am very excited

It is a totally new learning experience 

and worth it...

All wireless

(except the printer - which will be as soon as I read

how to do it)

Can you hear how happy I am!!!

Thank you Michael

I cannot wait to take lots and lots of classes

Hope all is well with everyone

This weekend is the Christmas rolodex book

Hope to see some of you at Scrapper's Cove

Hugs and More

Peggy

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

I just finished reading one of the most amazing books

I have ever read

This book is a true story based on cells taken from

Henrietta Lacks

without her permission during a biopsy back in 1951

There are so many story lines to this book

and so many emotions

The "HeLa" cells are named for Henrietta

(from the first two letters of her first and last names)

and they were the first cells ever to reproduce "boisterously"

in a lab at Johns Hopkins

Hela became an instant biological celebrity, traveling to

research labs all over the world

These cells have been responsible for things like the polio vaccine,

to aging and cancer cures, etc...

I do not want to tell you anymore about the book,

because i hope you will all read it -

it is worth the read!!!

This is a picture of Henrietta and her husband, David from

around 1945

I love reading and if you want to send me

your favorite books please do so

Have a fabulous weekend

Hugs and more,

Peggy

Scrap Pink

This was the fourth annual

"Scrap Pink" event

held at my home

and, once again, it was a huge success

and so much fun!

Here are some "pre" pictures...

A "lite" breakfast awaits...

I figured out that even though I "turn" the picture on "Picasa"

when i download them to the blog, they go back to

the original position for some reason!!!!

Anyway, NO "Scrap Pink" is complete without some chocolate!!!!

Same thing with this picture of the pretty

pink lilies...

this is just a "few" of the luncheon choices waiting to be served

later on...of course, i forgot to take a picture of

the counter when everything was being served...

There was PLENTY!!!!

Chicken Caesar Salad, Spinach Ravioli Lasagna, Mac & Cheese,

Caprese Salad, Chickpea & Arugula Salad, Orzo Salad,

Delicious Warm Bread

And for dessert, which I also forgot to take a picture of,

there was Black-and-White-Cheesecake Squares,

Cherry Garcia Cookies and Sorbet Ruffles

Marlie and her friend Elizabeth joined us this year

and they had a great time

They loved all their gifts and prizes and raffles

Unfortunately, they had to leave early because of ballet...

but they looked so adorable in their ballet leotards...

Marlie still had her crown her...

She will always be a princess to me!!!

When they left I made some Pomegranate Cosmo Martinis...

They are Yum-O and I thought I would share

the recipe with you here...

Very Easy

Pomegranate Cosmopolitans

2 oz pomegranate juice

(try and use organic or natural so not too sweet)

1/2 oz FRESH lime juice

1 oz triple sec

1 1/2 oz citron vodka

Combine in a shaker with some ice cubes or chunks

Shake 20 - 30 seconds

(you will hear/feel the ice melt)

Pour into glass

You can make a pitcher in advance

I serve with a couple of raspberries in the bottom of the glass

DELICIOUS!!!

Back to Scrap Pink!!

It was the most successful one to date..

We raised the most money and I am happy to say

we will be sending a very nice donation to the

Susan G. Komen For the Cure!!

Whatever the amount is I am going to round it up to $500!!!

I am very excited to be sending in this amount

and I hope each year we can raise more and more!!!

Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful day

and I will have another post soon!!!

Hugs and More,

Peggy



Tribute Center

I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to tour

the Tribute Center and Ground Zero yesterday with several friends,

including my friend Michele who is one of the guides

She has been involved since "day one" and it was

so much more special having her with us

To be a guide you have to have some connection to 9/11

In other words you had to be involved in some way

Michele lived only blocks from the towers, as did her son and her

husband worked there

Luckily, they all survived, but were effected emotionally

I was in New York on 9/11, I worked in mid-Manhattan and

it is a day that will remain forever engraved

in my mind and in my heart

Below are some of the pictures from yesterday's visit

You MUST put it on your Bucket List

Yes, it is sad and touching, but we must never forget

that this happened.

This tribute wall is much more beautiful in person

It is outside the tribute center which is next door to Firehouse Three

This Firehouse was not a first responder because they

were out on a call when the Tower's were hit

For this reason they "only" lost six firemen

This is an overview of the building of "One World Trade Center"

which is the official name of the new building

It is NOT being called the Freedom Tower

To the right of the picture you can see the South Bridge

That bridge used to go across the entire street

Notice there is a small hole at the top

That happened on 9/11 and they have no plans on fixing it

It is not a structural damage and they want it there to remind

people of what happened

Also, there was a North Bridge and there are no plans to replace

that bridge

This is a picture of the Memorial Park when you walk in

It is serene and park-like (a little more concrete that i imagined)

but very tranquil

No words can describe the feeling when you walk up to the pools

To imagine that this is the actual footprint of the South Tower

is mind boggling...

They truly did an amazing job

So sorry this picture will not turn around

This is the pear tree that survived the collapse of the twin towers

It was discovered in the rubble of 9/11 and was replanted

at the Memorial Plaza

It had snapped roots and a blackened trunk and was

only 8 feet high when it was taken to a

Parks Department in the Bronx

They nursed it back to health and it now stands

about 30 feet high!!!

This is a picture of the Museum which will be open next year

for the eleventh anniversary

It is supposed to be amazing!!!

We were able to get a small glimpse in...

Exactly the same as the South Pool only this is where the

North Tower stood

The water runs constantly and is soothing and healing

Again, I apologize this is not in the correct direction

Here stands One World Trade Center in all its glory...

I did not take any pictures at the Tribute Center

It was too moving, too personal, too tragic...

Make sure you do not miss it when you go

All surviving family members were asked to send in

photos, mementos or whatever of their loved ones

This room is just too much to bear...

Michele told us that some families are still getting calls

that remains have been identified

Some families have been called up to ten times

Many families have asked not to be called anymore

It is just too painful already - too much to handle

The stories are endless

The tragedies are beyond our wildest dreams

But yet there are also hopes that have come out of all this

Hopes that people have become better

Hopes that the world will become a better place

Hopes that we will all learn something from

these tragedies

To all of you I wish you love and peace

Peggy

October Class

Happy Sunday to all of you!

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend and are

enjoying today's dry, clear, chilly weather...

This is a quick post

Just wanted to show you the book I have planned for

my October class at Scrapper's Cove

I love the Authentique line of papers and used them for this book

The album itself is by Maya Road and is a fabulous book to work with

The cover of flowers makes you smile

I called my book "Summer Memories" but you can call

your book anything you want.

The spine is a delight of new and vintage buttons

The polka dots (inside and outside) are done with a mask...

I know this sounds crazy coming from me but..

I love the imperfection of it all!!!

A couple of the pages are painted and then stamped...

There are two pages like this...(possibly my favorites)

and we sew a very easy little booklet...

there are some pages with "just" pictures...

and lots of room for journaling on the 6" X 6" papers

A fun book in whatever theme you choose

Class is Saturday, October 22nd at Scrappers Cove

You can sign up on line (www.scrapperscove.com)

or call the store directly (732.745.1000)

If you cannot make it to class, class kits are available with full

color pictures for every page.

Enjoy and Be Happy!

Hugs and More

Peggy

Carol's Class

Our trip to Arizona was highlighted with a class given by

our friend, Carol Wingert

These classes are her "heirloom" series and this one did

NOT disappoint us at all

First of all, it was at the home of Carol's friend Patty

(and her husband Kraig)

They are two of the nicest, warmest, most gracious people

you would ever want to meet

Their home is warm and beautiful and inviting and the aromas

just filled our senses all day long...

The class was entitled "spool stories"

This is a picture of the project when it is all "rolled up"

(along with just a few of the many stamps we used)

This is how our project was presented to us by Carol...

Pure perfection in a gorgeous box with a homemade "lollipop"

and our place card attached!!

Carol's detail to perfection is always spot on.

And here we are left to right

Carol, Me, Lynn and Regina

 We still look calm and sane before the class begins...

And I am in all my glory just touching each piece of the

fantastic project...

Heavenly goodness inside the box...

And here is how Patty displayed every course throughout the day...

Here is the "group" with Patty, who is as sweet as her desserts...

These are a couple of pictures of the project itself...

(turn your head to see)

These are Carol's samples

Every project looked slightly different...

Lynn added fabrics with green,

I added some pink velvet ribbon and other stuff

Regina made changes too...

But the class and the project were perfect and wonderful

It was a "gift" to have had the opportunity to take

this class and meet these other "artbookers"

BUT...it was fabulous to spend such wonderful girl time

with Lynn and Regina

We had a blast and cannot until we have another "road" trip

Thank you girlfriends for an amazing experience

and thank you Carol for your loyalty and friendship

Hugs and More,

Peggy

P.S.  Happy October to everyone!!!

For those of you celebrating Rosh Hashonah -

La Shana Tova!!



Fabulous Trip!!!

I have been so blessed!

I just returned from a ten day jaunt on the west coast

I spent five days in Napa, California with eleven "girls"

It was the most incredible experience

Then I flew to Phoenix, Arizona and two of my "artbooking" friends

(Regina and Lynn)

met me there and we spent four glorious days vintage shopping,
antiquing, visiting scrapbook stores
and then the highlight of the trip was a class

with our dear friend Carol Wingert

I do not know if I will get everything in one post....

I will start with the Napa trip

This trip was to celebrate my BFF'S friend Judy's 60th birthday

and does this girl know how to celebrate in style

EVERYTHING we did was first class

We giggled from day one then cried when we said goodbye

I will post some of the pictures so you can get a "feel" of

just how lucky I was to be able to celebrate this occasion!!!

This blog will not let me turn this picture around

This is me "stomping the grapes"

at one of the wineries we visited

Judy bought us our "costumes"

It was a hoot and a half

We all had so much fun....

We picked our own berries....

That is the vineyard in the background - just gorgeous

This is a picture of the group before we went out into the "fields"

I am fourth from the left holding the little adorable

puppy in the crate!!!

The people at this vineyard were the nicest!!!

One more group picture before our stomping....

It was a fabulous day which holds many dear and cherished memories!

This is a picture where I (we) took morning walks!!!!

Out the back door of our seven bedroom villa were vineyards

and the views were breathtaking!

Just one of the many wineries we visited

Me and my "BFF" Kathy!!!

Gorgeous flowers on the Hill Family Farm...

This farm is where many of the local restaurants

(French Laundry, Ad Hoc, etc - Thomas Keller's restaurants)

all go to select their daily "pickings"

We were privileged enough to have a private tour of the farm

with a lesson in tasting and smelling

It was amazing and another highlight of the trip

Everyday we thought that day was the best day and then the next day

was just as fabulous

Napa is gorgeous country, the weather was incredible, the company was perfect and the itinerary Judy put together was ideal

A dream trip!!!

From Napa I flew to Arizona where I met Regina and Lynn

I had a day to rest (which i really needed!!)

From the minute they arrived we were on the go visiting store after store

and shopping till we dropped!

Here we are at our first stop

Mystic Paper

A very vintage, kitschy paper store

We visited two other stores also and called it a day

(Regina and Lynn did not get to the hotel until 3:00 so that was a lot)

We toasted our first day over cocktails that night....

YUM-O!!!!

Day two started out meeting carol for breakfast which was great!!!

We could have sat and talked for hours but we were on a mission

and she had a lot of work to do for Saturday

This store was a highlight of our trip and it did not disappoint....

I just wish we lived closer so I could have bought some of their

incredibly priced furniture!!!!

Here i am with my new pillow wearing a crown!!!!

Just look at the furniture and all the vintage goodies in the background!

More deliciousness...

We also visited Rust & Roses, Sirens & Saints, French Bee, Paris Envy,

The Secret Village, Scrapbook Barn and the list goes on and on....

We had another fabulous day and then found the best yogurt place

Orange Leaf Yogurt

It was delicious and we were hot and tired and

it gave us energy to continue!!

We drove what seemed forever but we found

Scrap Happy Sisters and it was worth the drive

(thank heavens we had "aggie" with us -

that is what we named the Garmin!)

We had dinner and then crashed.....

Friday was another nice day

We ate breakfast on the concierge level and then headed

out to Oldtown Scottsdale

But on our way we found the "PINK CHAIR"

This is one of my favorite pictures

Main Street in Mesa has lots of "sculptures"

and last time Regina was there she remembered

the pink chair but they moved it

We also found a yarn store that was not opening for ten minutes so we walked Main Street and took pictures of the sculptures...

We visited the yarn store and we all bought yarn to make this scarf!!!

We were on our way to Oldtown Scottsdale

when we saw this last sculpture and we stopped!!! 

Literally!!! 

Regina pulled over so we could have one more "kodak" moment....

How cute is this!?!?!?!?!?

Oldtown Scottsdale was great

Just what you would picture "old" Arizona to be...

How corny....

There was lots of great "rusty" stuff...

Too heavy to "schlep" home...

Made some new friends...

Had a fabulous lunch...

Then it was time to say "adios" to Oldtown Scottsdale!

We made one more stop in Scottsdale...

This was a great store and lovely people owned it...

The kind of store I would love to teach in if I loved there...

This store was in the "arts" section of Scottsdale and we wish

we had time to walk around - maybe next time!

Because we had another important stop at...

We went to the Agave Spa at the Kierland Westin

It was fabulous...

We all had different treatments and we were NOT disappointed!!!

Here is Lynn in all her glory..

and Regina...

and Moi!!!!

We had a great day to say the least!

The day was topped off with a little shopping..

And then dinner at...

It was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect!

Truly made us feel like we were on "VACATION"!

And what a vacation it was...

I am going to post this now and I will leave the class

we took the next day with Carol Wingert for the next post.

Hope you enjoyed all of my escapades.

They were both wonderful, fabulous trips with incredible friends

Hugs and More,

Peggy