Purple & Orange Happy Birthday

I'm not sure if you knew, but I am actually a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I don't really do much with it except keep myself in business - Ha! - but it definitely keeps my craft room overflowing with paper. Ever since I discovered digital images and then all of the other stamp companies that I am now oh-so-in-love-with, I began fulfilling my quarterly sales quota by simply stocking up on papers, inks, cardstocks, and things like punches and ribbons. In the last Occasions catalog, they had this paper called "Pawsitively Prints" and it went with the Build-A-Bear Workshop stamp set that they have. I loved the papers and thought the colors were cool, so I bought it. Funny, though, the catalog said the colors included Bashful Blue, but when I got the paper, it's actually Almost Amethyst and the colors just look really pretty together! What do you think?

I used another Pure Innocence image by Heather Ellis, a white rub-on sentiment by Stampin' Up! and the circles were cut out using a 2 3/4" punch that my mom bought me for Christmas and that I just love!

Hubby and I are off to Ocean State Job Lot this morning, they have accessories for the Wii (steering wheel, tennis racket, etc.) for $5 each! I also have to do some food shopping, one of the young men in my son's class (he's a junior in high school) has family in Haiti. He is having a bake sale on Monday to raise money for them, so Trev asked me if I'd make some of my "yummy brownies" - I told him I'd make 100 if he wants me to. Trevor has a heart of gold, he's the kind of kid who just cares about people and wants to help and he makes me so very proud. I think most of you know I am the Bursar at a small local private college. We have several students who also have family in Haiti. The money they normally use to pay their tuition is being tied up trying to get their family members over here to the United States. It's heartbreaking, and I so wish I was rich so I could just pay their bills. The least I can do is allow them time to get their payments in without incurring late fees or getting in "trouble". I also suggested to the higher-ups that we do something tangible for these students, help them pay for their books or give them some additional grants to help cover their tuition. I am waiting for a response and hopeful that they will do SOMETHING.

And lastly, the young lady I told you about earlier from a neighboring town who is missing in Haiti has still not been found. She turned 20 years old yesterday, wherever she is. Her family, after flying to Florida last week when mistakenly told that she had been found, finally returned home last night. No one has given up hope yet, but it's obviously very disheartening. Her name is Britney and she was in Haiti on a volunteer mission with her college and there are 3 other students and 2 staff members still missing along with her. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

Have a great weekend - be back later with some challenge cards! Peace.