Fright Night, Frigid Saturday

This is still a picture from work on Thursday – me all cowardly. Our Halloween was not nearly that exciting. Since school was on a fall break yesterday I couldn't return the mascot costumes. So I dressed up again for all the trick-or-treaters.

All TWO of them.

We night get the quantity of trick-or-treaters out in the sticks. But we sure got the quality. Cutest little pirate brothers on the planet! 

Argh! So that was that.

This morning I woke up to 37 degree outdoor temps with slight rain/possible snow mix. You know what that means... must be State Cross Country Day! 

Not enthused to be outside for hours, I asked Jim to drop me off at the entrance for the Division 3 boys race at noon. I just needed to photograph two Royal runners and they finished 4th and 14th so I call him back pretty quickly for a ride home.

Our full girls team qualified and ran in the Division 2 race at 2:25 p.m. Yup because this group in particular has been at state 4 consecutive years, they bumped us up to Division 2, thus competing against mostly much larger schools.

Our Lady Royals did not back down! Lucy finished the best at 6th place and our team finished 6th as well. Not bad for scrappy little Assumption! Gonna miss all these seniors!!

Got home in time to clean up and change clothes to go out to the Sky Club in Plover with three other couples from Jim's high school class. We do this at least once a year but always SAY we're going to TRY to do it more often!

The food was great and the company was fantastic! Always love that they welcome us 4 non-Royal spouses into the fold. They're the most genuine, lovely people. Jim is so lucky to have this history. And I by marital default, feel lucky too.

Then on the way home he reminded me when get an extra hour tonight! Well we spent that well. And I got my photos all edited and still get to catch the end of the exciting World Series. I'll pack in the morning for Sister Weekend (well Sun-Tues Getaway).

Happy November.

Just Wickedly OZ-some

I can't even express how amazing it is that every member of our writing team embraced dressing up for Halloween. As a team!

We decided a few weeks ago we'd dress up with the theme of Wicked or the OG Wizard of Oz. Naturally, I thought: "I wonder if I could use my connections at Assumption to secure the lion mascot costume for a day?" And it turns out, they'll let me have anything. For security purposes, we can't wear full masks (or a full mascot lion head) so I had to order the other "parts" on Amazon.

It was a very nice snuggly warm ride to work today. But it didn't take long to get over-heated. Thankfully we had our team pictures at 8:30 a.m. Here are a few so you understand and appreciate the depth of dedication here!

Here's our Follow The Yellow Brick Road crew!

And for Wicked fans: Here's GA-linda and Elphaba!

How convenient we also have the Munchkin Coroner close by when the house lands on the Witch at the beginning of the movie!

And if you saw Wicked the movie, you'll be thoroughly impressed with Steff's Dr. Dillamond. The best costume effort ever, if I do say so myself.

I did have to ditch the "lion's share" of my costume after lunch due to an important presentation I had to give. But otherwise, it was just OZ-some to be part of a fun team and see how many others dressed up today (since we work from home on Fridays).

Also, today is my 8-year anniversary at this place. That, for me, is also OZ-some!

Eve of the Eve of Hallows' Eve

Who knew this was a thing? But yes, my work team and I are definitely focused on the Eve of Hallows' Eve because tomorrow is our last day in the office for the week and we have to celebrate Halloween a day early!

No spoilers. Just know I had to work a few connections to get part of my costume. And then, naturally, count on Amazon for the rest! Hubby rolled his eyes pretty heavily when I had him take a photo of me in costume last night. He just doesn't get how fun Marketing people can be!

Of course in the back of my mind, I've already moved on to what sort of costume or "accents" can help my twin sister and I when we perform our annual Opening Act this weekend? Well, I had a mission to find one thing (times 2 that is) and failed. The Halloween shelves are mostly empty and, facing them on the opposite side of the aisle, are Christmas items already!!

I get that people turn to my favorite holiday as early as they can. But, since Jim golfed this afternoon, I can't quite wrap my head around merchandising something that is 2 holidays away.

Also, that's why I'm a writer for a living and not a numbers gal.

And, although there was slim pickings, I did manage to get some treats in case any ghosts, goblins, ghouls, princesses or dinosaurs show up on our doorstep Friday.  Like Motel 6, we'll leave the light on!

Right Brainers Unite

I don't even know if it's scientific proof or just an old myth that left-brained people are pretty logical and fact-focused – and right-brained folks like me are imaginative and artsy. But I can see a trend among us folks in my Marketing Department. 

Sure I bring the trifle... but look at today's options between our writing and creative (design and video) teams.

First Melissa (aka "Pinterest") brings in these delightful treats she made this weekend. All inspired by Pinterest, she said, but it must have taken forever! Love it! And oh my, the pumpkin spice cookie sandwiches with cream cheese frosting (second from left) were a-maze-ing!

Then we had Andrew's pumpkin seeds...

There were 3 different flavors and we could vote on which flavor we liked. AFTER voting, we could look at the cheat sheet of the ingredients. No surprise I chose spicy No. 3 which actually had Sriracha as an ingredient.

How fun!

Of course, I was thinking I might have an entire week off from creating a trifle, but my 27th annual sister weekend is coming up this Sunday-Tuesday (hey we'll call it a "weekend"), so I'll see if I need to do one on demand or not.

For now, my right brain is focused on our work team Halloween costumes for Thursday. 

Just so many brain cells on this side of the brain!!

Productive Crop

It was such a nice 4-day weekend at the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt, where both the totem pole of creativity and...

Louis the Lion were the guardian of scrapbookers everywhere – but especially at Croptoberfest!

We had about 40 of us ladies for the weekend this year...

And of course my fave scrapper was my high school BFF who came up from Madison area to join me. Leave it to us to wait until day 3 and no showers to take our selfie. We know better. We will be better. But we still had a fabulous time catching up on life and fueling each other's creativity.

My first goal was to finish our 2017 "family memories" book, which included nephew Colin and Amy's wedding.

And family season-SKOL time, too! Some things just need to be documented!

Was thrilled to finish my slightly over-thick 2017 album before going to bed Saturday night.

So Sunday I got to see the 'Tober part of Croptoberfest and get my second half-hour massage. It's quite necessary actually. I also had to say goodbye to Julie. Then got a lot of 2018 pages done, including...

Family visiting central Wisconsin for junior high basketball tournament...

And a winter drive not far from our house! 

Thanks to horror movies, I had a bit of a stressful evening sleeping in a cabin by myself since the others weren't staying until Monday. Survived, for the record. Then when I got to my table I realized how one empty 8-foot table on Friday can explode into scrap overload during the weekend. We do require a lot. Don't ever question it.

Since I forgot to order additional 2018 pictures, the only thing I had to do this morning was shower (finally), pack up my cabin stuff and my scrap stuff. So I spent a few hours organizing (and tossing) some of the heap of stuff above. 

Overall I am happy with my progress for the weekend – into May of 2018 when I return for Camp Crop-A-Lot in February!

Will I ever catch up? Who knows? Though at one time this weekend hubby suggested I should do this monthly. No argument from me!

One More Sleep

Who's so excited for her scrapbooking weekend that she had her car packed LAST night? Apparently, THIS girl!

I was missing a few key items that had to wait until tonight/tomorrow morning... like my clothes for the weekend. Even though I'll wear the same thing probably all 4 days. And the food and snacks – which half are in the fridge right now.

Including my Pumpkin Spice Spice Baby Trifle I whipped together after work! 

Now I just have to throw my clothes together and hopefully I'll be all set to hit the road at 8 a.m. Must make the most of 4 days! Ha. 

I don't know if I'll have time or connectivity to blog at all. I'll be working to finish up my 2017 "family memories" album and get a good start at 2018. My high school BFF Julie will be joining me again (yay). Sometimes we get more distracted chit-chatting than scrapping. But you know what? I wouldn't change that for anything. 

So no judging on my productivity (or lack of it). I really need these 4 days out of the office!

Plus, reliving memories is so fun and healing. Today my dad would have been 98 years old. Logically, I know he wouldn't have made it this far. But that doesn't make me miss him any less. I scrapbook to preserve moments in time that I want to cherish from this day forward. 

I mean if you can find a hobby that's both fun and therapeutic, you gotta grasp it and hang on!

Find Your Happy Place

Love Chuck's good advice! I sort of did embrace this concept today. At the end of the work day I was talking with a co-worker who had a question. I said "That didn't come up in yesterday's team meeting." She's like, "That was this morning." My response: "Today has been 3 days long!"

We've all been there.

I had a very last-minute rush project come in right before lunch. Let's just say there were a few ways I wanted to react. None positive. Instead, I said, "I'm going to leave the building and go to my happy place over lunch to reframe my mind."

Sometimes my happy place is a golf course or the front deck or even King Cone. Today it was Hobby Lobby. Did I need anything? No. But I found a big multi-color pack of fine tip markers ON SALE to use at scrapbooking camp this weekend! 

And that was all the happy elixir I needed.

I will credit yesterday's speaker for some of that. He pointed out that there's this space in time when receive information and when we react to it. Try to make that space wide enough so you make a wise choice in your reaction.

Frankly, yes, it IS hard to do. 

Thank goodness there are happy places only 10 minutes away!

Find yours.