Oh what a Fall it has been:)

I sit here on this quiet Sunday morning reflecting on the past month or so and feel so very fortunate to have been able to participate in some of the events that I have. And to think that I still have a couple more trips before the holidays is simply amazing!

It started at MultiCrafts Wholesale in Ottawa and then Bizzy B's in Toronto. Both of which I think I have already given you the run down on. I had a GREAT time staying with both owners and look forward to seeing them again one day soon:)

Then it was the BIG one! OH YEAH BABY! New Your City and the New England Cruise with Oh My Crafts! It has always been a dream of mine to hit the streets of New York so I was beyond thrilled to have been asked to join Oh My Crafts again as one of the Featured Instructors:) I was even happier to have been able to bring along my bud, Janine to help out and we were both in awe when we stepped off the bus in the hustle and bustle of NYC right on Broadway, a few mere steps from Times Square.


We spent the evening wandering around admiring the bright lights. It was unbelievable how many people were out on a Thursday night. The streets were wall to wall people but I have never felt more safe. There was a strong police presence everywhere and everyone was very friendly. Not at all what one would expect in such a huge city that once had a nasty reputation.



We even spotted a Tim Hortons in Times Square (actually just off it but there nonetheless!) and couldn't wait to have a real cuppa java to take away the Fall Chill. We introduced our friends from Utah to their Hot Chocolate and think they discovered why it is so popular!


After a good nights sleep we hit the streets once again. We started the morning seeing a little more of Times Square by daylight while waiting for the OMC crew.

We then embarked on a journey that included the subways of New York. What an easy way to get around. Once you have your course marked, just hop on the train and BAM! You are there! No wonder so many people do not drive as the subway is so convenient!

Here is the lovely Sandy (owner of Oh My Crafts)... she was so much fun on this trip:)




After getting off the Subway, we were now in Battery Park and heading on over to catch the ferry to Liberty Island. Afterall, one cannot go to NYC without seeing the Statue of Liberty, right?


The boat was full of tourists just like us and I am pretty sure most of us were shocked at the actual enormity of Lady Liberty. It is a massive structure and quite awe-inspiring.




Walking around Liberty Island was nice... there was a beautiful view of Manhattan in the distance.
We did the typical photo thing... pose and smile:)

Got some GREAT shots of the statue but then it was time to go! So little time and sooooo much to see, there was no time for dawdling!



So back on the boat we went... heading back to NYC....
The ferry made a stop at Ellis Island but we just wanted to get back so we did not disembark. This was all we saw of it... pretty cool, but that was enough for us!

So after getting off the boat and having some lunch at one of the street vendors that NYC is famous for, we walked around the Financial District knowing that we must be near the World Trade Center Site.

We stopped and asked this NYPD officer and he gave us directions and warned us there was not a lot left to see as it is now a construction site. He gave us his thoughts on the whole thing and his personal perspective of the current situation. He is not pleased as he lost many friends to the events of 9/11. He did direct us to a church nearby and told us it is a makeshift memorial and was worth checking out... although he has not been their since the clean up days as it is still too painful (he actually teared up!) WOW!

So off we went and here it is... just a construction site. BUT it was soooooo much more than that. Janine and I were both taken aback at the overwhelming emotion we felt standing there looking on what was the location of the worlds tallest buildings. Everything we saw from that horrid day on the tv, thousands of times over since hit home BIG TIME. You never TRULY get it until you are there. Imagine standing with your head stretched way back to look up to see the top of the tallest building and then realizing that the buildings that came down actually TOWERED over the tallest buildings in the vicinity (they are wayyyyyyyy taller than anything I have ever seen). The idea that they actually came crashing down is unfathomable. And to think it did not cause a domino effect is even more mind boggling. We have all been told a story of how it actually happened but there have been other theoris and although I have always been a skepic about things like that, I can now see how one would question what the govt wanted us to believe. I am not ready to form a judgement there as one way or the other it is HORRENDOUS to think ANYONE could cause that much destruction... sickening really!

After a few minutes, it was time to walk. We needed to clear our heads and our eyes. Seriously overwhelming experience but I am sooooooo grateful to have been able to be there and see it with my own 2 eyes. It changes EVERYTHING!
So then we happened upon the church our police officer friend told us about. A beautiful structure hundreds of years old in the midst of a concrete jungle. Headstones in the cemetery so old that the words on them had weathered away. Once you pass through the iron gates a sense of calm passes over you. So in the doors we went....

There were many stories to be told from that day and so much of it is documented in the little displays inside. Like these peace cranes... made for the people of NYC by the survivors of the Hiroshima bombings in WWII. Amazing...


And then this collection of patches from rescue personnel from around the globe that came to support the police, fire and ambulance workers in their time of need. It proves that the tragic events of that day truly affected people everywhere!

There were so many other stories inside those walls, like how they went through thousands of tubes of chapstick to help with dry lips from the masks. And the massive amounts of Vicks for the rescue people to hide the stench of of the decaying bodies. How the volunteers served more than 3000 meals a day to clean up personel. How there were massage therapists and Chiropractors on hand to attempt to ease the pains (physical at least) from the back breaking work that had to be done. Truly, people from all walks of life pulled together to during this time that changed the world as we know it.

This Bell of Hope was given to NYC from London and it is rung on 9/11 each year. AS tragic of event as that was, having the opportunity to visit that spot changed my life and if you ever have the chance... I highly recommend going. I cannot precisely put into words how I came out there feeling but know that it does put it all into perspective. It was definitely one of the most important things I have done in a long time:)

So then Janine and I had to get out of the area... it had changed out mood for the day and we knew we had to shake it! So back onto the subway we went and headed back to the other end of Manhattan to check out a little bit of Central Park.



We were surprised at how once you crossed into the park, the hustle and bustle of the city was gone. It truly is an oasis in the midst of chaos.


It is a HUGE place and did not go far as there was not a lot of time but we did enjoy a bit of downtime and had the yummiest fresh roasted peanuts while enjoying the view.



We took a few pics and really had to pic up the pace as there was so much left to see and we had barely made a dent in it!
We then hit 5th Avenue. We checked out some of the phenomenal windows that the boutiques are so famous for. They were amazing it itself.


We saw Rockerfeller center...

And stretched our necks seeing Trump Tower...

And then after dinner... we were soooooooooooooooooo tired from the day that we had no energy whatsoever to do anything but sit and people watch in Time Square again.

New York was by far one of the best places I have ever been and I look forward to making it back there very soon and being able to take in some more!

The next day... we boarded the Caribbean Princess and headed to some amazing ports such as Halifax, Saint John, Bar Harbour, Boston, Rhode Island. The following pics may not be in chronological order but it will give you an idea of some of the fun stuff we did on our travels:)

Janine the Dancing Queen at the nightclub onboard our ship!
Many of the crafters enjoying one of many laughs we experienced as a part of the Oh My Crafts New England Cruise. Note the lovely Making Memories Aprons they are all sporting... we had such amazing sponsors! Everyone was BLOWN away by their generosity!

Here is the lovely Yarik of Provo Craft with her sweet Haley. We had too much fun together and look forward to seeing her again soon!

Jodi Holbrook from Making Memories... she is a RIOT! I loved getting to hang with her and her sweet Mama:)

While in Boston, we happened upon a movie being shot with you guessed it... Ben Affleck! COOL!
Her I am as the ship left port in Brooklyn.

Saint John surprised me. I think it was probably the prettiest stop on our journey. I did not expect it to be so nice. They had amazing homes that lined the streets downtown so every now and then we borrowed a door step for a photo op!

What made Saint John even sweeter is that my friend Christine Campbell came to meet us and show us a few of the sights. Thanks Chris!!! It was too short a visit but nice to see her if even for only a couple of hours!


Here is a shot of a lighthouse from our ship in Halifax.

Although I did not do as much exploring in Halifax as Janine, I did manage to get a couple of cool shots before heading back to the ship. I was not liking the rain that day and not in a very touristy mood...lol!

So there you have it... New England in a nutshell (a HUGE nutshell mind you!). If you made it to the end of this post... you deserve a prize! Leave me a post and I will give away an assortment of goodies from some of my class sponsors from this event next weekend! A HUGE thanks goes out to Tattered Angels, Prima, My Mind's Eye, Graphic 45, Bazzill, Riff Raff Designs, Beacon Adhesives.
I must also mention that OH MY CRAFTS stepped up to the plate big time with our classes and provided all the things that took the projects to the next level. Without the support of all of our wonderful sponsors, these classes would not have been near as much fun and I think that each and every participant was blown away with your generosity! THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

After returning from there, it was a matter of a quick load or two of laundry before heading off to Langley BC for BC's Creative Expo. There I had a great time teaching 8 classes (insane, I know!) in 3 short days. But we had a fab time, the event was terrific and I had a great time catching up with old friends and making many new! Stay tuned for more classes that may come to a store near you! I chatted with a couple who MAY want to play some more so I will keep you in the loop as details are finalized! Thanks to Kerri and Marsha for another fab event. It keeps getting better and better and I hope you will have me nack next year! The sponsors for this event were terrific too so thanks again for your generosity too:) Scraptivity!, Tattered Angels, My Mind's Eye, Riff Raff Designs, Graphic 45, Beacon and Prima were all so generous and we couldn't have done it without you:)

So where to next??? Why Okotoks of course! YUP! Looking forward to heading to Sheep River Scrapbook Co. in Okotoks, AB (just outside Calgary) november 6-8. Most of the classes are sold out but there may be a couple of spots left in one or two but I suspect they will not last long! I hope to see you there in a My Mind's Eye weekend:) Lots of fun stuff planned and I think you REALLY want to be a part of the fun!

So remember... leave a comment and on November 1 (next Sunday), I will draw a winner from those who posted:) Have a GREAT week and thanks for stopping by!