Marlyss I Am

You might think with a name like "Marlyss" I am the only one.

Not so.

There's plenty of us. Enough to have a "Marlys Club" that anyone with a variation of the name can join for $5. I haven't joined. They are in Minnesota and I'd never make a meeting.  In fact, I find it hard to believe myself that there are enough Marlyss's in Minnesota to have more than a couple people meet for coffee at Starbucks. But it looks like they had a crowd. Maybe it's because they posted this following notice on their website and they got a good response. No...I'm not kidding 'ya.

Maybe you won't believe this next piece of information either.

There is a ROCK BAND named MARLYSS. 

Oh yes....really.

They own the domain name "marlyss.com" which should be mine if you'd asked me.

But no....they own it and have a very poor one page website on it.

They play songs like "Termite" and "All the Weeds". 

Don't ask me what I think of their music. Please don't.

But here's something I like.

There's a book and comic strips written about a red haired and freckled little girl named Marlys. It's written by Lynda Barry. You can even buy her book on Amazon and it seems to have wonderful ratings.

Ok....I have red hair and freckles. Well...sorta. Not as red as it used to be and not nearly as many freckles as this Marlys in the book has. Thank goodness for small things!

I'm sure you'll find this "How to Draw Marlys" information very helpful.

Something everyone needs to know. Or not.

This is probably more information than you ever wanted to read about the name "Marlyss". But one last piece of information. My Dad found the name for me. He saw someone with that name and she was very pretty and he thought if he had a daughter that would be a good name for her. Thanks Dad.

Tree of Life and other cut-out names

We cut out names like crazy around here.

Most often they are around 30" or so and

used for Sign In Boards or for Candle 

LIghting Centerpieces for items we make or

to send out to those Do It Yourself folks.

 

These names also work great on the Placecard

table as a sign to welcome and greet the guests.

 

Like Coby's sign plunked right there in the middle.

 

It was a take off on the invitation that had a 

Tree of Life on it and an abstract and slightly funky

kind of Jewish star design.

Funky and whimsical are things I really like.

 

Add great colors to it and I REALLY like it. 

 

On the base we added turquoise and royal blue poufs with a 

new lime green metallic mylar we just found to the mix.

Yum.

I want to change my name to Coby and keep it!

"You Rock" little guitar centerpieces

Here's some simple...yet sweet....little guitar centerpieces.

They would work well on 30" small cocktail round tables or

in a restaurant setting with 4 top tables. 

A cute and simple table centerpiece that lets 

your guests know you think they rock!

The star and musical note is printed with the

guitar and banner. It is all one piece and one

layer but it gets the point across.

Everyone wants to think THEY ROCK and

are cool and you're glad they're at your party...so 

I think these centerpieces impart that message to your guests.

They are about 12" high and the body of the guitar is

about the size of your hand.

Sweet and Simple and budget-friendly.

You can see more guitar centerpiece ideas at:

www.guitarcenterpieces.com

(Add that "s" on the end because somebody else

has a website that is similar but without the "s" on

the end of centerpiece"s"....ahhh...yes...we have 

competition....but a good one....you have my permission 

to visit them too!)

You are what you drive...really?

Really? You are what you drive?

I guess I'm a plain white Ford van that often needs a car wash.

In my past I've owned a few cooler middle-of-the-road cars. In the 60's I owned a pink Mustang. I once had a yellow and black Montego that reminded me of a banana. I once...and most recently...owned a purple Camero.

So there's parts of me that aren't a plain white Ford van. But I've owned more Ford vans in various colors than any other kind of the vehicle. I need them to cart around party decorations and put in big sheets of foamcore. I just need to own a van. Darn it. It's clunky. It's always filled with tool boxes and party lights and extension cords and its...well, it's clunky...like I said. It's only redeeming features are that it has a cool coin holder and an after-market heated seat...on the drivers sided only I might add.....and holds a ton of stuff.

Now I'm driving my Dad's vehicle since I took over the remainder of the lease after he up and died on us. My Dad loved a nice car. He never owned a van. Not even one. He owned a Cadillac or two and a few convertibles. He always had a good looking car and it was ALWAYS clean. Yikes. He set a high standard on car cleanliness.

Now I have this very nice Ford Fusion with all these whistles and bells to spoil the heck of me. Did you know that I have InSync in it that allows me to talk on the phone right in the air in the car? Yeah, I do. That feature right there is worth the lease payment I'm making every month. I love packing my Fedex party boxes into this little car .... as that big 'ole van sits idle right next to it....and driving to Fedex in a car that has more gadgets than I'll probably ever figure out. But I can talk in the air...hands free. I love that.

I also like that it tells me when my tires need air. A little sign comes on. Gimme a break. Really? I'm so going to get use to this feature. It's told me twice to fill those tires. I feel so on top of things! And I'll never back into ANYTHING ever again because it will beep like crazy if I do.

And I always know how many more miles I can go on the gas I have left. Now my Dad said to never let it get under 1/4 of a tank so when it gets there, I get nervous. I hear that voice in my head. I get my butt to the gas station because my Dad said so. I'm there. I'm doing it. But, gosh, I'm not so good at getting to the car wash. I need to work on that.

And did I mention that it has a really nice coin holder? In a drawer. Beats the heck out of the van's coin holder.

My Dad was always spoiling me. He still is.

Hurting. Just plain deep hard hurting.

Semi-Sexy black boots that make you taller

So I headed over to DSW armed with a $10 off coupon to buy a pair of "sexy hi top black boots with a heel to make me taller".

I'm walking down the aisles and I see many that I like but none that I wanted to try on. I wasn't looking for high stiletto heels. My feet could never take that. I only wanted semi-sexy I guess. Also...I don't need to break an ankle.

The first pair I saw that I wanted to try on were brown. And furry. With a waterproof rubber sole. And fur around the top. And no heel at all. I tried them on and they felt so good. Fur was inside too.  I thought: "This is it." I love these. And they matched the brown Costco fleece I had on. I put them in my shopping bag.

Since I was only about 1/2 the way down the aisle,  I kept going. Past lots of "sexy black boots that make you look taller". I wistfully looked at them. I saw one pair with a heel I thought I could deal with. I stopped and tried them on. Within a couple of minutes my toes and ball of my feet were aching.

I was looking between them and the brown boots. I think I looked sad because a saleslady came up to me and asked:  "Don't you like them?" (meaning the brown boots I was staring at.)

I said "Yes, I love them but they aren't what I came in to buy. I guess I'm just reverting to my true nature." She looked at the 10 year old plus Ecco loafers I had came in wearing.  Talk about comfort! I even hot glued the soles recently so I could keep wearing them. I love them. They own me. They are me. I'm not a sexy black boot lady,  I guess.  I love comfort.  I was feeling wistful. She saw my dilemma and offered to help.

She brought me a couple of "semi-sexy black boots that make you look taller" that she thought might be right for me. One of them had some comfort built into them and not such a steep angle to your foot and I felt like they were ones I could enjoying wearing and looking taller for awhile when I didn't want to look clunky.

They certainly wouldn't be good for hiking up a mountain like I could have done in the brown ones.....but I don't have plans right now to hike up a mountain....probably not any time this year either.

So I bought the "semi-sexy black boots that make you look taller". They're mine. I love them. I'm taller.

I left the brown ones at the store and never looked back.

Sometimes you just need to kick yourself in the butt to get out of the rut....or find the right salesperson to help you on your way.

Amusement Park Roller Coaster Party Centerpieces

Nothing says fun more than ROLLER COASTERS!

What a great party theme.

For either girl or boy parties.

Roller coaster, Sizzler, Ferris Wheel, Log Flume, Carousel, 
Gravitron and Zipper......

all favorites.

We can do things in ANY COLOR!

We especially liked the colors and the addition of feathers and pink cheetah print. So Girly Girl. We love making stuff like this. Amusement parks, carnival, Disney-like rides are such a rich and wonderful theme to work with.

We can also make Candle Lighting Centerpieces with a roller coaster ride theme.

Or maybe you need a Gift Card Box?

Or, a Sign In Board.

Just send me an email if you'd like to explore this

fun theme for YOUR party.

marlyss@mac.com

The ESPN look for multi-sports parties.

I read somewhere that you need to group things together for the best statement. The article was referring to collectibles and collections people have of things like salt and pepper shakers, family photos, nicknacks, etc.

So I grouped together some ESPN pictures. Yup....it makes sense to me. All in one place.

Like all the crayons in a box, all the silverware in the drawer. Like all my swings on the back porch. Like all the water in the lake...oh yeah....I'm glad that's all in one place and not divided into puddles. Like all the blankets on the bed. Like all the fingers on your hand. Like all the candy wrappers on the floor of my van. Like all the clothes on the floor. Well...some things are not so attractive all grouped together.

Halloween in the 'Hood

I live in a Lakes Area. We have Big SUPERB GORGEOUS houses and not-so-superb houses all mixed in together. I live in a house about smack in the middle. Not SUPERB GORGEOUS but just fine for me....average. I don't have a washing machine in my front yard.

In fact....I have a problem with people who put stuff in their front lawn that doesn't belong there.

I don't mind decorations but please....please...no junk. No empty flower pots. No gardens. No tomato plants in your front yard. Did you miss the show on TV about Curb Appeal??

We have some of those types dotted around our neighborhood. I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me to see JUNK in the front yard. Here's a slice of some crap in the front yard of a house near me. It makes me cringe to see those pots and junk scattered all over their front lawn.

So...I'm have this baggage. I'll admit to it.

Now I'm driving thru an area about 3 blocks down from me and ...What!...I spot a rusted 'ole pickup truck on someones LAWN! You know it caught my eye.

I start to get that feeling...that groaning feeling. Then I started to laugh. Cool. I liked it. Creative. I admire creativity.

I just had to snap a picture as I continued down the road.

Then I saw the competition.

Oh yeah....just a few doors down they had some competition...some very well done competition.

Although...if this wheel-less vehicle wasn't covered and gracefully draped in cobwebs and it wasn't 

Halloween, my blood pressure would probably have made a hole in the roof of my van.

But I actually admired it. I even got out of my van to snap a picture.

Pretty cool. 

I just hope it isn't there in November...and December....and on and on.

Car Racing in go carts

What guy or gal doesn't want to get into

a vehicle and start driving before they 

reach 16? 

I'll admit to it. 

I let my underage kids.. and now

my grandkids... sit on my lap and 

drive my car down our road.

I manage the gas and breaks.

They handle the steering wheel...

with my hand close by on the bottom

of the steering wheel. (After all,

we don't want to take out any roadside

mailboxes...or parked cars.) It's fun.

They do surprisingly well.

 

So it's no wonder that go-carting and

this place in Michigan called 

Cart to Cart is a fun place for kids to

have that driving experience 

at an early age.

We made these cute and colorful and

personalized centerpieces for a local

Bar Mitzvah.

The Mom took the photos on a day trip to

the venue and sent them over to us via 

email and we made them into centerpieces.

We made the flags from foamcore and

the little "roads/tracks" from foamcore too.

The Tarantula Chronicles: Part 9

Jacob strikes again.

This time he gets a

"Panama Red Rump" from a 

tarantula seller he met on

Arachnoboards and also works at 

our local McDonalds.

 So the whole family took a trip up to

McDonalds one evening at 9 pm to

pick up "Ronald"...the new tarantula.

 Jacob has a new tank already prepared thanks to

Chris...one of the great guys who works with

Drew....who no longer needed it.

Jacob carefully encourages it to get into its new

environment. Sometimes they are very uncomfortable

with the change of scenery and and can act hostile.

But this one seemed to be adapting pretty well even

though the previous owner said this tarantula could

be kinda mean.

Jacob has a leather glove. 

Actually he has a pair that I donated to the tarantula endeavors.

So his Grandma...who is taking these pictures (that's me)

says why aren't you wearing TWO gloves?

Jacob says he's fine....don't worry.  

I worry. That's what I do while I take pictures. 

Watch and Worry...my two middle names.

But, obviously, this tarantula knows 

he has a friend in Jacob. Some sort of

"tarantula 6th sense" I guess.

Drew admires this lovely new female tarantula and says

it reminds him of the one he had in looks and size.

This one is about 4 years old and about 6" or more.

It's a nice big one and apparently happy to be here.

 

This is my all time favorite shot.

It sorta says it all.

(to be continued)

Me and my iPad and Huma Lupa Licious

I needed to share my pure delight with you.

Last night I:

1. Had a cordless phone meeting IN MY BED with a client in another state.

2. I typed up her invoice on my ipad IN MY BED whilst sippin' on a beer called Huma Lupa Licious....an India Pale ale that is described as "A complex malt and hop theme park in your mouth". I'm not sure if this is my all time favorite beer because I like the name....or I like the idea of a theme park in my mouth (that's so weird...sorry). No....I think it is the taste. It rivals Starbucks for taste in the beer department. I love it. At 5 o'clock I start thinking about it. The show "The Doctors" said 2 beers a day are good for your heart. I love to help my heart keep beating. I'm all for that.

3. I emailed her invoice as I sipped on that beer.
I thought .....now if I could only print out a hard copy for my files, life would be just fine.

4. I looked for an app for that. There are ipad apps for that. Amazing.

5. I sent my invoice to my printer wirelessly. Yes I did. ALL FROM MY BED~~ with my beer.

6. And then Stacey gave me a wonderful bed tray because I told her I was using a cardboard box to work on in bed with my ipad. Oh my gosh....I love it~!!  I may never leave my bed.

7. Now who delivers food...I mean right to my bedroom and sets it on my bed tray. Who does that? Is there an app for that? There should be.

Kingthings Flashbang...our new discontinued font.

Stacey and I hung this sign at a pretty Bat Mitzvah party this weekend 

done in purple, silver and black.

I designed the sign and Stacey cut out the cute and crazy letters....

....and cut and cut and cut.

This font for "Tori" is called KIngthings Flashbang. 

Stacey decided we needed to call it our

"discontinued font"....thank you very much. 

A one of a kind....first, last and only.

 All those individual circles were separately cut out and all the 

FLASHBANG stars are cut from foamcore. 

Then painted and glittered with purple glitter. 

 Ahhhh..it was sooo pretty....maybe Stacey will re-consider. 

I'll give her time. 

Maybe a year or so.

Phone from car? Pondering in a boring moment.

What the heck?

The sign says "Phone from car"?

Park sideways and lean out your window and use the payphone on this pole?

Not if someone else is parked there in the way. Obviously you can't park of the other side of this crappy phone pole because there's stones around the ugly old weedy grass.

Looks like too many folks leaned on this pole. Are they waiting for it to fall down before they remove it?

Who uses it anyway? Is there one person in the world who doesn't have a cell phone?  Ok...maybe a homeless person. But I doubt any homeless people are visiting this junky party store...although maybe...you never know. Would they have money for a pay phone?

I pulled into the gas station next door and as I was pumping gas I saw this sign. Since pumping gas is one of life's most boring things to do my mind was wandering and pondering the usefulness of this eyesore. There was nothing better to do as I added my almost $3 a gallon gas into my gas tank.

Oh well. Time to ponder is over. Over and Out.

Huron Valley Sinai...Our Home away from home....No Exit.

Huron Valley Sinai Hospital.

It's a beautiful place.  Lushly landscaped and an impressive hotel-like entrance. It's sparkling clean and good health care is given here. Parking is all low on the ground surrounded by landscaping...no big ugly parking structures here.

My whole family has been there on many occasions. Oh...yes.....many. And more to come.

We've all been patients or visitors on occasions too numerous to list. My appendix was left there about 15 years ago one fast and painful Friday evening that I would like to forget.

I remember an old crabby neighbor lady across the street from me who tried to get me on her side in her opposition to having this hospital built just 5 miles north of our houses. She said all that blood running downhill and down the drain was going to ruin our wells.  Really. I kid you not. She said that. I remember crazy stuff like that. I went "Huh? That happens? I don't think so." She assured me it did and it was going to happen when that hospital was built. Crazy lady.

There's lovely internal gardens all around the place.  This one is just off the cafeteria which serves pretty darn good food I might add. I never mind having to eat there.

There's this sign in the cafeteria looking out into these lovely gardens. It says NO EXIT on the door.

No exit to me means this is not an exit. Maybe an alarm would go off?  How'd those people get out there that I saw eating out there? From another door hidden somewhere?  I ate inside.  Dumb Me.  But I watched that door.

And I saw someone go out there thru it. Ahh...Ha. You open the door and walked thru. Yup....that's all.

My Dad and I enjoyed eating lunch in the lovely "self contained" garden that had NO EXIT to the parking lot. Now I get it.

Why not say "Welcome" or "Enter" or  "Open to the Public" on the door. Underneath that: "No exit to the outside of the hospital thru this garden". It's a big door...plenty of room for all these words and "Smoke Free Environment" too.

So....it's a pretty perfect hospital except for this sign. Just wish I didn't have to go there ever but I'm glad to know it's there and I never....repeat never....have worried about blood in my drains. Crazy lady.