New Years Eve...

Wow, the last day of 2012. I have never really thought about New Years Eve as being the last of something. I have always considered it to be the first of many new things to come. Really though, it's both an end and a beginning. For myself, today marks the end of 2012 but it also marks the last year that it will only be "Ryan and I". Next year, tomorrow, 2013 marks a lot of new beginnings. This coming year marks a new year, a new family member, a new home (eventually), a whole new dynamic to my crazy life. I am stupid excited and stupid petrified.

Tonight I will be ringing in the new year with Ryan and our dog. We will eat crap food and watch TV. Ryan will drink some beers and I will drink sparkling juice. I'm looking forward to it. There is something really special about having time alone with the ones you love most. My wish for all of you is that you too bring in the new year with the ones that count the most. Give them a hug and kiss at midnight and count your lucky blessings, for we are all lucky and blessed!

Sugar Cookie "Gingerbread" Houses...

I may no longer be a child, but I still do enjoy gingerbread houses. With that being said, I am not much of a gingerbread fan. This year I thought I would try something different and made houses out of sugar cookies. To make the cookie a little tougher then usual I simply omitted the baking soda and left the cookie on the counter overnight. They turned out really well!!

I think the kids did a pretty good job. The youngest boy kept saying to his brother, "What do you think of mine? It's much betta then yours, hey?" Way too cute. 

Our Christmas Tree...

Soon to be our recycled or "garbaged" christmas tree. Only four years old and half the branches are broken. We tried to fix it with green duck tape, but the tape just couldn't handle the weight of the decorations. I managed to get a couple of photos before the branches started to drop. LOL. It is something to look at now, definitely a conversational piece :)

It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year...

AND no I am not talking christmas. Fellow paper-crafters, card-makers, and scrap-bookers (apparently scrapbook is not a word, it's only a billion dollar industry - Apple it's time to update spell check!!!) sneak peeks for CHA have begun!!!!!! Woot, woot! What's CHA you ask...well CHA is the craft and hobby association. It is held twice a year, but the big one is always the winter show, the one that happens in January. Usually the show doesn't begin until the end of January, but for some reason the dates been moved forward. Cannot say that I am complaining. In fact I am doing back flips. I love this. For me CHA sneak peeks is the equivalent of 6 year old me looking through the sears wish book. Does anybody remember doing that? Do they still have the wish book? Anyways, sneak peeks have begun. So far I have only found one site that is sharing them...my previous go to site has yet to start. As soon as they do I will share the link...in the mean time I will share what I have found thus far. All of these sneak peeks were originally shared from this blog here. Thanks for sharing yourscrapbooksupply.com

Carta Bella ~ True Friends
Carta Bella ~ Devoted
Echo Park ~ Love Story
Color and Composition ~ Webster's Pages

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

... Everywhere [ I ] go

There is absolutely no escaping it, christmas is once again upon us. Yes, yes, I know it's only the middle of November but stores EVERYWHERE are all decked up for the holidays. Can you believe people have already bought all their christmas gifts?!? I haven't and to be totally honest, I love the busy malls and crazy shopping experience that December is. People who complain about it have clearly forgotten what christmas is (granted it's not about gifts at all). I walk into a mall see the thousands of people shopping and smile because it's fun! Any-who I've been in the christmas spirit and working on some card ideas. These cards are NOT the ones I am mailing to everyone so I can safely post them.wink. wink. 

  

Have a good weekend everyone!! And if you are watching the UFC...lets go GSP!!!

Remember...

November 11, 2012...Today is a special day. Today we remember all those who have fought for us, died for us, and continue to fight for us. Today we remember the war of 1812, a war fought 100 years ago. Today we remember families that have lost loved ones. Today we remember those who are less fortunate then us. Today we share moments of silence. Today we are grateful. Today we do not forget. Today we simply remember.

Photo Credit

It's That Time of Year Again...

Well, it's that time of year again where crafters a like start planning and creating their x-mas cards. I usually send my cards out first week of December so I like to have them completed before hand. Not to mention that it usually takes me a while to get motivated and I have excellent intentions of sending cards out to everyone, but the time, effort, and pain of hunting everyone's address usually equals me only making a handful of cards. Sorry to my family and friends who have not gotten cards and are reading this. I promise to make it up to you this year because I have gotten a huge head start on the card making. Plus, I'm keeping them simple this year and following the principle "less is more"; so far less really is more.

I was going to post a picture of my card so far, but I've changed my mind. I am going to keep it a secret until I mail them out :) I will leave you with this teaser for now...

Excuse the blurry picture. It's dark in my craft room and I was too lazy to get out my tripod :)