Found this photo in my in-box this morning.  Monkey in the middle!!!  Simply Beads Magazine added a new feature, Triple Take, a couple issues ago.  Pictured (l to r) are your Triple Take Girls:  Margot Potter (aka Madge), Candie Cooper (aka Me), and Katie Hacker (aka Kkkkatie).  It works like this:  one vendor supplies each designer with a kit, then we take turns producing a home decor, jewelry and accessory project from the same components.  It’s been a fun challenge and the results have been fab!  You can see for yourself—all the project instructions are free on the Simply Beads website!  Yahooo!

When in doubt, pull out the JAZZ HANDS…..I always say.

Checking our email bright and early this morning at Starbucks.  93 degrees, no breeze, 110% humidity and I’m drinking a hot latte out on the porch.  Hopefully the magical internet guy will appear at our new apartment soon. 

Today, when checking in on blogs, I see that Cynthia has some fabulous desktop calendars for downloading.  (C, I tried to comment, but my secret browser blocked me from doing so).  They are super cool, so run on over and check em’ out.

And on that note, I’m off because the amount of fluid dripping off my neck is getting embarrassing, not to mention the bed head hair!

We’re alive….barely.  Made it home Friday night (our time) after a good trip to turn around and start our move.  Did I tell you we have to move?  I only found out myself 5 days before we left for the States.  Gotta love that.  The Reader’s Digest version goes like this: our cute little apartment was sold, rent went through the ceiling, The Savvy’s found a new pad.  We have to be out of this apartment by the 1st and after our big push today, we’re gonna make it.  Wait til’ you see pictures of the new digs.  Red and Orange couch with a pastel purple accent wall!  Woo, baby!  I would describe it as Mod Squad meets Pee Wee Herman.  I keep hearing Tim Gunn from Project Runway in my head, "Make it work.  Just make it work!"   And that’s what we’re doing…

A few highlights from the trip…

Deep discussions over fishing…

As the saying goes, You can take the girl out of Indiana…

A trip to the ol’ Eagles Theater in Wabash to see  Harry… Balcony seats $5 a person

Craft and Hobby Show was a treat—more to come on that one as soon as I beg kkkkatie to send me over some photos.  This is the only one I took in four days (shame on me)–that’s us sitting below in a swanky booth at the Hyatt on the last day.  I met so many wonderful folks at the show my head was spinning.  BTW Madge has some great CHA photos on her blog.

And we spent the last two days of the trip in downtown Chicago because we had to renew our Visas (minor detail).  We ate at our favorite restaurant, Lou Mitchell’s and went to see Wicked.  It was all spectacular. 

Now here we are back in China.  Two jammed packed weeks makes it seem like a dream.  It’s never enough time to catch up with everyone so until next time…

By the time this posts, I’ll be on a plane heading home…as in home home.  Found this image in a magazine this evening and I thought it said it all.  (chuckling)  Good Trip-exactly!  Hammock and cozy blanket-yes, please.  Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.  Hugs.

Jello pudding pops?  Chocolate, Vanilla, Swirl, and some fruit flavors?  I believe it would have been another 80’s thing.  I associate eating them after a good swim on the yellow porch swing at my grandparent’s house.  It was slightly devastating when I realized Jello had stopped making them altogether.  You too?!?  Fear not, there is a solution!

It all started about a month ago, when the idea to do a search for jello pudding pops popped into my head to see just what happened to them.  And some good news came up in the hits… 

A. They’re Back! (as of 2004, no less!  Where have I been!?!?)

B.  The Recipe from Kraft!  (for those of us living on the outside)

There were also petitions to bring pudding pops back!  Alas, I’m not the only one that’s been in mourning.  I’m a DIY girl, so I went straight to the kitchen, grabbed Mr Savvy’s sugar-free choco pudding mix, my trusty popsicle maker and got to work.  After 8 grueling minutes of stirring and spooning, I had these:

I’ll tell you, 8 minutes was nothin’!!!  Because then I had to wait 5 hours for the results!  Tor—-ture!  After all, I’ve been waiting since 88′ for these or something.   

Worked like a charm!  I think we ate the whole tray in a weekend!  Since then, we’ve tried vanilla with slices of banana.

Still tasty, but if you’re a chocolate fan, don’t mess around–get the chocolate pudding! 

Excited?  I knew you would be.   Speaking of Excited, I head back State-side on Thursday for two whole weeks.  I’m even going to check out the Craft and Hobby Association show in Chicago!  And with that, it’s time to dig out the suitcases.

Where are you?

Hey y’all, I’m looking for some classmates.  Help!  If you know of anyone that graduated from Wabash High School in 98′, could you send them my way please?  Thanks for your help in advance.   Seriously, I’m still scratchin’ my head looking for the last 9 years!  Lordy, what’s that pain in my neck?  Ah, yes, that’d be whiplash because the time has gone too fast!  I’ve set up a simple blog to get the search underway and link up.  I also thought it would be fun to share some photos there.  Mom, do you know where my yearbook is?  I’m sure the answer is, "right where you left it, honey."

Here’s the link to the blog:  WHS Class of 98 Blog