Happy Holidays and After Christmas Sale!!!

I want to start out by saying that I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with their families.

As you can see Toby and Daisy put on their best collars (which do jingle) and were excited to unwrap the presents from SantaPaws. This was Daisy's first Christmas so she wasn't very sure what to do but Toby showed here exactly how to get the paper off and dig right in.

We ended up at my sister's house (as we do every year)and were able to enjoy each others company and eat until we burst...I um...have gained back about 3 lbs but heck I'm still net -20 LOL....I gotta get myself back on track or New Years is going to kill me! Our whole family almost showed up including my nephew up from college in TN. Unfortunately due to many issues, my brother (who lives in WA) was unable to be there. Since we are so many people, we took one picture against the living room wall of half of us and then leaving 1 person in the middle added the other group of people on the other side and I ended up doing my little magic joining together so it looks like we were all in 1 original picture. My mom was so funny and called me to ask if I had pictures of my brother from when we had gone to visit him to which I said yes. She then asked if I could add him to the picture so we would all be in it....ROFLOL! Gotta love revisionist history...I told her I would try. I'll send a copy to my brother so he can see what a good time he had with us.

I have been busy working on some new files and am going to try to spend part of the day today test cutting and tweaking before I upload them to the store.

In the meantime, I am running my after Christmas sale on all of my files through the weekend. Everything is 30% off! So if you didn't have time before the holidays, go get yourself your favorite beverage and take a look around. The sale ends tomorrow, but it's best not to wait too long!

Well, I guess it's back to work for me!

Until next time!
Eddita :)

Yea! All is good and new Video Tutorial

In case you did not get onto the PT forum this week, I wanted to say thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers...saw the cardiologist and I'm going to be good! Just need to reduce stress, take vitamins, add fish oil and keep on keeping on! My heart is in great shape and it should last me at least another 50 years woo hoo!

So with that large weight off of my shoulders, I'm looking forward to 2009!

Based on a thread on the PT forum, I promised to create a "Quick and Dirty" tutorial on how to merge 2 images together using Paint Shop Pro. As always, I'm definately not an expert and I'm sure there are easier ways to do it, but the video shows you what works for me.

Basically, I started with 2 similar but different images that I wanted to merge into 1. I took them when DH and I went to the brand new visitors center in Gettysburg. If you haven't gotten up there (and enjoy history and the civil war) I do recommend it. In any case, here are the pics (note if you click on the image it will open larger):




Now the link for the tutorial can be found with the other tutorials. While you can click on it and watch, if you have a fast connection I recommend that you download it so you can see the closeups a little better.

Here is the way the merged picture looked when I finished the video.



You can still see the break between the 2 images clearly and I have kind of finished getting rid of the horse. As I said, this does take a little time (especially in the beginning when you are first learning how to use your clone brush). I know I went kind of fast but if you have any questions let me know and I will try to help. Also there are PSP tutorials online that you can find that might give you a little more detailed help and explanations. Here is a pretty good one :)

In any case, when all was said and done, here is how the image turned out. I think it looks pretty good. Take a close look and see if you can tell what disappeared and what appeared LOL!



Anyway, take care everyone! Let me know what you think!

Eddita :)

BIG Sale This Weekend and more....

I want to start by letting all of you know that I am having 2 sales this month. The first one is this weekend and then the second one is right after Christmas (which I can't believe is almost here!)

I have only a few more things I need to get but I'm pretty ready for it (at least I keep telling myself that so I don't stress out and end up buying everyone a fruitcake in the end!)

I have a full day planned finishing up some Christmas Cards and Gifts and my daughter and I will be working on her Christmas presents for her friends and family...homemade peanut butter cups! Last year she did chocolate covered pretzels which were a hit so I don't expect any less from her candies this year.

I'll try to get on later to let you know how it went but for now...lots to do!

Eddita :)

Hi Everyone...and yes I'm still alive!

Well I went to the Dr's office on Monday to have my stress test and for those who have never had one (like myself) it was truly interesting. So I got there at 12:30 for my appoinment after only having had breakfast (bowl of oatmeal at 6am!). As those who know me will attest, no food makes for a very cranky Eddita....picture the exorcist chick with head spinning...that's just childs play LOL!

Anyway, the first thing they did was to try to hook me up with an IV for where they were going to inject the isotope later on. Unfortunately, they wanted to use my left arm (which is very bad for giving blood due to the shy veins). I told them exactly where to go on my right arm (got a great vein there!) but the girl insisted it had to be the left arm because of the way they have the treadmill set up in the other room, etc. I didn't fight but I'm telling you right now I should have. I KNOW my body better than anyone and when the time came to inject the isotope, she basically had to force the stuff in the vein because it wanted to go anywhere but..this of course was while practically speedwalking on speed and incline 4 just so that they could get my heart rate from a sitting still 45 up to 135.

At least I know I'm not going to have a coronary because if I was going to, then THAT would have been the time to do it. In any case, I won't bore you all, but when the test was over and she was removing the IV, she says you will need to put a warm compress on this since you will likely bruise a bit...key word A BIT!!! Here is a pic of what my arm looks like right now (4 days later!) And this is pretty good...I swear..next time I am going to INSIST when I know what my body needs!



In the end, the ultrasound of my heart was good (I have a very pretty heart according to the tech) and I got all the tests done. I will be going in next Monday for the results...keep your fingers crossed for me please! Hopefully something will show why I had the TIA in the first place.

I've also been busy making some new files and I'm having a sale this weekend. More on both tomorrow!

Night everyone!
Eddita :)

Boy do I have a lot to catch you up on!

I want to apologize for not having been on for a bit but I just got super dooper busy creating new files and every time I thought I had a moment, that moment would just disappear!

I was very happy getting my new files together and making my Thanksgiving plans when I had a small setback. For those of you who already read on the forum you can skip ahead but for those who don't know, I had a small stroke called a TIA. I wasn't doing anything (other than watching a show on the History Channel after dinner) when I felt a pain in my chest which was followed by numbness on the left side of my face and down my left arm. I also felt a heaviness on the left side of my face and when I asked my DH to look he saw that it was drooping a bit. We went right off to Urgent Care and then transported to the hospital where I stayed and had a battery of tests run on me.

Good news, I don't have diabetes, cholesterol, or thyroid problems. I am still relatively young (47 as you know from my birthday sale), non smoker, non drinker (just use wine to cook with), loosing weight (23 lbs so far woo hoo!) and I walk. I am going to have a stress test next Monday and then the following week will get the results. In the meantime, I've been told I'm doing everything right and to keep it up.

Now why did this happen? Who knows, which really does make me take stock of everything. I know my whole family was very worried (as was I truth be told - and still am). I'm going to do my best to stay healthy though!

It was a little questionable if I was going to be able to host Thanksgiving this year but since all the tests were not showing problems, the Dr. took pity on my (and my repeatedly saying "but I have a 20 lb bird thawing in my fridge") and let me go home. My DH and Mom were adamant that I was not going to cook unless I got the Dr's ok so....I did check with the Dr who felt it would be ok for me to cook...but since I had to have it in writing....here is what was on my release form under activity:



he he he!

So in the end, I really only helped with the making of Thanksgiving feast. Much thanks must be given to my middle son who did most of the work (with me sitting and giving instructions). I did get up to help when he needed it (as this year we followed a Butterflied Roasted Turkey Recipe I saw on America's Test Kitchen. Cutting through the bones was a bit tricky! My Daughter also helped by making her super yummy yams and mashed taters. My sister brought the salad, obligatory green been casserole, homemade rolls and a cake. All in all as every year, I am so blessed to have such a great family. I can truthfully say that I am very thankful to have each and every one in my life.





So that's what has been going on so far. I did just finish 3 holiday cards which will be hitting the store soon. You will be able to find them individually and as a collection (for additional $ savings). I think they are pretty cute (if I do say so myself!).

Take care everyone, until next time!
Eddita :)

I thought everything was going so well & an Announcement!

Well I did believe everything was going well until...we came home after work only to find foam and carpet fibers spread around the rug and in the middle of it all we see.....are you ready now.....THIS! A 6" on the diagonal piece of rug and padding gone so all you could see was the wood underlayment!!!



We thought that our darling Daisy pup was ready to not be crated all day...after all on weekends when we have been in and out we had been leaving her out with Toby and when we would come home they were just two happy dogs, excited to see us come home...well as you can see, we thought wrong!

Of course I just pointed to the hole and looked at the dogs and said "Now WHO did this to my rug?!" Toby just looked at me and Daisy dropped her ears down flat and slunk out of the room....hmmmmm do ya think it was her???? Couldn't be...after all she looks so innocent!!

Fortunately, my DH is the Handiest of men and he looked at me and said...oh well, things happen....and anyway, we were going to eventually need to replace the rug....huh??? While my head was spinning as I vacuumed up a carpet (which we can ill afford to replace right now) he jumped on the internet, researched what he needed and made a list.

The next day, he went shopping and here is what he did....Step one: Sacrificing a cookie tin lid, he used it as a template and cut out a neat looking hole to which he placed a piece of foam we picked up at Joanne's. Step two: Using some special rug tape he bought he placed it on top of the foam and finally Step three: Using special glue, he placed it on the edges to it would adhear and then placed a piece of rug (we cut out of a very inconsipicuous location and placed it in the hole (making sure the grain was going in the same direction as the carpet. Step three: he put a very heavy box and let it sit overnight....doesn't it look good?! After letting it sit he used the steam cleaner and vaccuum over it so it all melded together....Woo Hoo....My DH ROCKS!!



Now, unless you are standing right over it looking down, you can't even tell there was a problem....we did learn our lesson however....Daisy is back in a crate....I know we are still going to have to replace eventually, but at least it gives us a little time to save up some money and get throught the holidays, which leads me to my next announcement....I'm having a sale for my Birthday! Woo Hoo!

I hinted it at it the other day and said that the percentage would be my age...while there are some people who where guessing super high percentages (like walking dead 100%) one person (my favorite at this moment said 20...ahhhh CPC you are golden right now LOL!). The truth of the matter is that I am going to be....47 on November 12th! According to my mother who doesn't see the fascination in my sharing my real age, I'm actually pretty happy about it. You see....I really thought I was going to be 48 until DH pointed out that as I was born in '61 I was only going to be 47...Woo Hoo...that was the best present he could have given me LOL!



In any case, make sure you hit my sale. It is the best one I am going to have through the end of the year so don't delay....after all...I have to be able to put away pennies for a new carpet!
Eddita :)

Don't miss out and

Happy Monday, updates and a couple of reminders....

First let me say that I have been pretty constructive over the weekend. I helped my DH trim the bushes outside, bring in the fountain, cleared out the old tomato plants, etc in anticipation of winter. We still have a little more to do out back but we're almost there!

I also learned how to make a couple of DELICIOUS chicken recipes! I know I am an Alton Brown addict, but this week I went to the library and took out a couple of DVD's from "America's Test Kitchen". I have seen this show on the local PBS channel a few times and have really enjoyed it and was surprised to see them available on the shelf. The first one I borrowed was one called Best Weeknight Recipes and the other was called Best Baking Recipes. If your local library rents DVDs I would really recommend them! So far, everything I have made has exceeded my expectations. In addition to the chicken dishes I made cornbread but instead of a big muffin (since I am watching my weight (17 lbs down so far woo hoo!) I made them in tiny muffin tins (pampered chef purchase years ago) and they came out delicious! Each DVD had the recipes which I printed out and I'm ready to cook away...I won't even get started on the Baking Recipes DVD except to say we will be using the deep dish apple pie one...since my daughter will be in charge of that one I will let you know how it turns out after Thanksgiving....Anyway...I digress...I know you can purchase them as well but they are a little pricy and the only way to see on their webiste is to pay to join their site...I'm not much into it but there is a free 14 day trial I may have to check out!


OK, now as far as reminders go...If you have not already responded to the email Paperthreads subscription request (to confirm your email) please make sure you do right away....I think (though I can't confirm) something nice will come your way if you do. Also, make sure you are signed up for the Newsletter! Each month there are informative articles as well as some great free files (available for a limited time). I just finished the one I am offering this month but the only way you will be able to get it (at no cost) is to sign up for the newsletter! I came up with this little fellow who would rather be playing ball than a guest of honor on your table! The football is actually a seperate piece which you can place anywhere...I just thought it looked cute weaved into his feathers.

Well, I guess that's it for now...my other reminder...(here I am getting up on my soapbox) Don't Forget to VOTE tomorrow!!! Anyone who knows me knows that I get that lump in my throat whenever I hear our National Anthem played, knows that my tears well up and knows that I am very proud to be an American. Along with that pride is the responsiblity to go to the polls and cast my ballot. It doesn't matter whether my candidate is ahead or behind in the polls...polls are just numbers which can be manipulated in either direction....also, there are tons of people like myself who refuse to take part in them because they are manipulated.

For example, if you asked a room of 500 people to decide whether french fries should be served in restaurants and only 250 people in the room responded to the poll and of those 150 said they shouldn't then the polls would say that french fries were no longer in fashion by a wide margin and would most likely be voted out. Well what about the other 250 people who didn't respond to the poll? We don't know what they actually cast their ballot...I guess I'm just asking for all of you to just get out there and vote...it is just one of the "perks" we have as American citizens...born or naturalized and the way we continue having a democratic process...(off my soapbox now!)

Well everyone take care and be safe!
Eddita