Hope You Can Cling To Chatter - Let's Be Friends! :)

[UnderstandBlue]

Hope You Can Cling To has turned a lot of us from strangers into friends over the past few years, and this year will be no different.

Let's get to know each other!

[EthansMom]

I guess I get to be first! I haven't participated in years past and bumped into the thread on accident.

I lost my Mom to lung cancer when I was 21. I lost my Aunt to breast cancer a few years later. What a yucky disease. I'm happy to help send some hope and love in the direction of those who are living through it.

Thanks for letting me join in!

[bfinlay]

I'm so, so sorry that you had to say goodbye to your Mom and your Aunt due to cancer, you have a very personal understanding of what the card recipients are going through.
Glad you bumped into the thread, you'll really enjoy the chat here and the fun of the HYCCT challenges!

[tygerpaws11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EthansMom

I guess I get to be first! I haven't participated in years past and bumped into the thread on accident.

I lost my Mom to lung cancer when I was 21. I lost my Aunt to breast cancer a few years later. What a yucky disease. I'm happy to help send some hope and love in the direction of those who are living through it.

Thanks for letting me join in!

MEGA HUGS!!! On a happier note... I was just up in your neck of the woods... wow! I'm SO jealous you get to see that EVERY DAY!

[eliotstamps]

Nice to see so many familiar faces from previous years! Welcome to any and all newcomers, too!
(HUGS) to you Jennifer as you go through this. And (HUGS) to EthansMom for your losses.
This is a personal cause for me, too. A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with breast cancer; she's the fifth woman I've known in the last five years to be diagnosed. Three of them were under 40. My sister is also a 3.5 year survivor of uterine and ovarian cancer. I've been making cards for all of them and will happily make cards next month for more folks like them to help boost their spirits!

[muzbysmom]

Looking forward to a little chat to make the weeks go faster until the event starts! Have any good recipes to share ladies? I made a mean chocolate zucchini cake. I'll get the recipe and post it soon!

[vdoyle8]

Jennifer -- I will be sending healing thoughts and prayers your way as I make my cards this year! And Ethansmom - I'm so sorry for your losses. I lost my father and brother to cancer. My sister-in-law is a TWENTY YEAR breast cancer survivor - Thank God!

I love love love this event and am looking forward to seeing my friends from last year as well as getting to know some new people!

[mamaxsix]

It really is an awful disease. Last year my mom was in the midst of her treatment and I'm thankful she's through all that though she's still dealing with some complications (failed implant with a wound still struggling to heal and lymphedema). It was really great to be able to feel involved in some way last year and the chat was a lot of fun too.
Prayers for all those who've lost loved ones or are going through their own journeys.
Just made a yummy eggplant and orzo dish tonight with goodies from my garden.

[vdoyle8]

Gail - that eggplant dish looks amazing. The photography on that site is outstanding-- makes me hungry just to look at the photos!

I made this a couple of weeks ago. It was my family's first experience with quinoa. My daughter's best friend says she likes it but she can't look at it while she's eating it LOL! She says it looks like germinating seeds. I believe she's right :-) Aside from its looks, it's pretty tasty.

Southwestern Black Bean, Quinoa and Mango Medley
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 6 Serving Size: 1 cup • • Points+: 4 pts
• 15-ounce can black beans, no salt added, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup cooked quinoa (according to package directions)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup chopped fresh mango
• 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 small jalape�o pepper, seeded and finely diced
• juice from 1 medium lemon or lime
• 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp ground turmeric

Directions:
Mix together the beans, quinoa, corn, bell pepper, mango, onion, cilantro, and jalape�o in a mixing bowl.
Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and turmeric in a small bowl.
Drizzle over the mixture and toss. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

[Clownmom]

Hi, ladies. Looking forward to HYCCT. It is always fun and always makes you feel good that you can actually send your cards to a worthy cause. I also have some experience with cancer -- with two different outcomes. My mom is a 30-year breast cancer survivor, but my husband died of lung cancer ten years ago.

[UnderstandBlue]

Oh - the recipes!!! That reminds me - this year I'm going to post a separate recipe threads so we can browse them!!

[eliotstamps]

Love the new recipe thread, Lydia! It may be 95 degrees out, but I'm in the mood for fall food - pumpkin pastries, crockpot dishes, etc. I got some great ideas here last year!

[Cook22]

The recipe thread is cool! I have one to add - but only when I get everything else done. It's gonna be one of those days; I spilt yoghurt in my hair and had to wash it before work, so I hope I get through the housework and to my me time without any major disasters.
I have a cyber friend dealing with cancer right now, so for me too this has extra meaning this year.

[Ksnurse]

OMGoodness.....3 weeks away and y'all are already chatting.....too fun....love the recipe thread....will have to put some up when have more time....

Have a great week everyone....can't wait to start the pink crafting frenzy....I have the first week off so hope to make some extra...

[pegmac71]

Good morning! I think this will be my third year participating in HYCCT. I was a nurse in another lifetime and currently work full time as an Administrator for a Nursing Home Diversion Plan. We work with the State to keep people in the community and out of nursing homes. I am an avid bowler (my sweetheart is a Pro bowler) and I love to travel. Throughout my travels I try to meet fellow stampers/SCS'ers. We are a special community for sure!

[vdoyle8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pegmac71

Good morning! I think this will be my third year participating in HYCCT. I was a nurse in another lifetime and currently work full time as an Administrator for a Nursing Home Diversion Plan. We work with the State to keep people in the community and out of nursing homes. I am an avid bowler (my sweetheart is a Pro bowler) and I love to travel. Throughout my travels I try to meet fellow stampers/SCS'ers. We are a special community for sure!

How cool that you and your sweetie share a fun sport! My dad owned a bowling center when I was growing up.

[allee's]

I always look forward to this annual event and creating cards for the patients at MD Anderson.

Like many of you, I have lost family members and dear friends to various cancers over the years. I am most happy to say, however, that those dear to me who have experienced breast cancer have come out of it healthy survivors which gives me great hope for the progress being made against this dreadful disease. In fact, one of these lovely ladies will be celebrating her 100th birthday this week!

Keep up the good fight, Jen! Hugs to you.

[MaryR917]

This will be my 2nd year participating in HYCCT. I enjoyed making cards last year and sending them off to MD Anderson. I lost a brother to cancer 2 years ago and my sil is in remission now with her cancer.
Looking forward to the recipe thread as well.

[muzbysmom]

Good afternoon ladies! Just checking in. I'm proud of myself today. I was dying to go to a garage sale today that was being held by a SU demo and her downline and I resisted the temptation! I really couldn't afford to go although I darn well wanted to! Maybe next year. Right now the budget's tight and I have craft things still in their original package (stamps and embellishments) so I should use what I have and not add to it!

[Greywolf]

Congrats Lynn on resisting the tempting garage sale!

It's nice to see familiar faces from last year's HYCCT, and I look forward to meeting new friends this year. I'm going to clean up my secondary craft area and dedicate it to HYCCT. Maybe that will keep my house a little neater this year. :smile:

[It's Ree]

Fun! I had a great time last year! I can't wait for this year.

[Ksnurse]

Wow Lynn....You have some serious willpower....I love to even just look so if I go, I take just a little cash and no checks to save my budget. Today I found a deck of Jumbo Old Maid cards from the late 60's for $.50.....totally fun hysterical pictures that I'm thinking will make some fun cards...they have a lot of pink and green colors so one may end up in a HYCCT challenge....we'll see....

[vdoyle8]

Sheri -- what a great idea with the Old Maid cards! I wouldn't have thought of that!

[sewsplendidstamper]

How have I missed this thread? I can't wait for another HYCCT year!
For those of you I don't know I'm a SAHM during the day and work at Target in the evening. I bake, cook, clean, party, volunteer, craft, fund raise and pretty much fall into bed at midnight to start all over again at 7 the next morning. I finished my fourth Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this past July and have raised over $14,000 in those four years! I lost my aunt to breast cancer the week I graduated high school and most recently met and fell in love (friend love but you know when you meet someone and it feels like you've known them forever) with a women who in the last three years was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a year of treatment, and walked beside me in this past Avon Walk.

As long as I can glue, bake, walk and ask people for money I'll continue to fight the fight on this end of things.
Nice to meet you all XOXO

[eliotstamps]

Victoria, didn't you start working at Target during last year's HYCCT? If so, I'm glad it's worked out for you!

[vdoyle8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eliotstamps

Victoria, didn't you start working at Target during last year's HYCCT? If so, I'm glad it's worked out for you!

I remember that, too, Michele.. I knew you would be a star employee, Victoria!

[sewsplendidstamper]

I did! It will be a year here November 15. I was interviewing and waiting on word during the challenges last year.

[muzbysmom]

Good morning ladies! It's a glorious fall day here in Minnesota! Went down into the 50's last night and will go into the 80's this afternoon. Perfect weather!

May get some crafting in! You know how I said I was resisting going to a SU Demo Group's sale? I assumed my husband would freak if I told him I wanted to go but when I told him about it at suppertime that night (when it was too late to go) he said I could have! Bummer! I won't miss it next year!

Have a wonderful weekend ladies!

[Ksnurse]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdoyle8

Sheri -- what a great idea with the Old Maid cards! I wouldn't have thought of that!

Yep, I'm the queen of repurposing....I do it with fabric, car parts, farm equipment...just about everything....

[Kathleen Curry]

Hi ladies!
I missed the challenges last year, just was crazy, with kiddos and ankle surgery for dh. Two years ago I completed all of them and want to again this year. It's funny last year I really felt like I was missing out. It is SUCH a good feeling to know you are cheering people up with your cards.

That eggplant looks amazing. Going to try it tomorrow, think I have everything I need for it. We have a ton of eggplant from our CSA this year, and dh and the kids are sick of it, I need some new things to do with it.

Getting excited to play along this year!

[mamaxsix]

someone posted this pic on fb today and thought it might be inspiring to us!

[KelliJo]

GOOD MORNING Ladies!!!! Yahooo!!!!! I am SUPER excited to play this year.... Just to name 1 of my relatives, but my Mom is a 25 year Breast Cancer Survivor.

Looking forward to playing and making people smile with these gorgeous cards!!!!

[Vickie Y]

Good morning! What a beautiful way to begin the day...here on SCS!

Pink is my all-time favorite color for lots of reasons, but mostly because it's the color of HOPE!

Wishing everyone a "shades of pink" day!

[KelliJo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vickie Y

Good morning! What a beautiful way to begin the day...here on SCS!

Pink is my all-time favorite color for lots of reasons, but mostly because it's the color of HOPE!

Wishing everyone a "shades of pink" day!

Hello Vickie!!!!!! LOVE YA!!!!!

[Vickie Y]

Hi KJ! I've missed ya! Just checked out a couple of the links in your signature...love the drunken stampers challenge blog! ;)

[Crafty Math Chick]

Howdy ladies - KelliJo and I are already friends, heh heh heh... ;)

Actually I think HYCCT is the only time of year I REALLY use the color pink...

[KelliJo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vickie Y

Hi KJ! I've missed ya! Just checked out a couple of the links in your signature...love the drunken stampers challenge blog! ;)

OMGOSH! That group is CARAZY!!!!! :mrgreen:

I miss you too my friend!!!!!!

[KelliJo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crafty Math Chick

Howdy ladies - KelliJo and I are already friends, heh heh heh... ;)

Actually I think HYCCT is the only time of year I REALLY use the color pink...

HEY Meredith!!!!!! **smooches**

[hbrown]

Howdy ladies! I haven't played in these challenges before (life was crazy last year), but sweet Amanda Havon invited me to join and play. I had such an awesome time playing in the DTGD challenges a couple months ago, so how could I pass this up?? :-)

Question - I don't have any "breast cancer" stamps or anything of that nature. Do I need to go shopping? What else do I need for these challenges??

[KelliJo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbrown

Howdy ladies! I haven't played in these challenges before (life was crazy last year), but sweet Amanda Havon invited me to join and play. I had such an awesome time playing in the DTGD challenges a couple months ago, so how could I pass this up?? :-)

Question - I don't have any "breast cancer" stamps or anything of that nature. Do I need to go shopping? What else do I need for these challenges??

I only have 2 or 3.... so I'm HOPING that I don't need to shop... lol!

ONE of them is from my goodie bag from Unity! ;)

Welcome, it's my first time too!!! DTGD made me do it... what a BLAST that was....