T is For Treats

Well, after the excitement/scare of last Wednesday's big fire down the street from us ( you can see a pic and read more here) I can say all is well. We have our power which was only out for hours, and today our land line phone was restored after being out since last week d/t the fire.

 For my T Stands For Tuesday gang I'm sharing a collage of pics taken at my birthday dinner the other week:

 Caesar Salad, Vegetable Medley, Wine, Seared Scallops with Jasmine Rice, Mexican Dk. Choc. Cake with a peanut butter whipped frosting/filling. The Apollo Grill in town is our very favorite restaurant to go to for a treat! The food is very fresh , beautifully presented, top quality ingredients, and excellent service. I didn't get a pic of hubby's main plate of crab cakes but other than that we both had the same salad and veggies. There was a group of girls that came in celebrating a bachelorette party just as dessert arrived and so they and our waitress sang happy birthday to me-a really sweet bunch! Of course, Bill ate the dessert-all of it- minus one bite because I had to taste. And I must say, it was DIVINE!

 Last Friday another friend took me for lunch but I didn't have my camera. It was also in town- a newer restaurant. We had a quiche and mixed greens salad which was very good. She also gave me this gift:

A beautiful wood box with a stained glass like hummingbird on top. Lynne knows I have a thing for hummingbirds and it is one of my totem animals. I love it!

 This past Saturday my friend LuAnn and I went to the Heirloom Productions Rubber Stamps and Paper Arts Convention that was held in the next town. I wasn't sure what to expect as the number of vendors seems to decrease each year and there isn't very much new. We had a GREAT time and were delighted to be able to purchase new products! I also ran into a few old friends who used to take classes I taught-back in the early 2000's :).

 Here's what I came home with:

 Beginning at left- 6" x 6" background stamps from Impression Obsession. I was given a sample card and then had THE hardest time choosing just three of the many fabulous styles they had! The deal was to buy the mega mount and two stamps and the third was free; journaling stencil from Lost Coast Designs; Tim Holtz Lace Stencil; below that is a pack of three Wink Of Stella brushes -gold , clear and silver. I have been seeing these and hearing so much about them. They are brushes filled with a liquid glitter with a brush tip that allows for writing and filling in-without a glittery mess. Right next to that is a pot of Light Gold pan pastel-another product I keep hearing about. They are not cheap so I went with a color I thought would best serve me. I got three different Stickles glitter glues -for  $1.99 ea. A four pack of gelatos in vibrant tropical colors-YUM!-another new to me product I need to play with; and next to that -new Staz-On mini ink pads in new colors. I got St. Valentine-a gorgeous red, and Spiced Chai. I try to get reinkers every time I buy an inkpad anymore. I love my Staz-On inks!

 If any of you know of any of these products and have any tips or links I'd LOVE to know-thanks!

 So, here is just a quick journal page playing with the two new stencils above:

 Linking this to the Simon Monday Challenge (Pastels). I used distress inks in the background; and the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes).

 Have a great rest of the week everyone! Oh, and if I'm not back until after, a very Happy Easter to those of you celebrating this coming Sunday!

                              " Relax, recharge, renew, restored."               Lailah Gifty Akita