Before & after holiday stuff

Well I couldnt do much computer wise due to a nasty computer virus. Such a pain, I could only check out things in safe mode/networking, but I couldnt post to anything. So $110.00 dollars and 2 hours on the phone with McAfee my puter is all better YEAH.

We had a awesome snow storm on December 17,it snowed from 7:30am until well into the night. Our highschool would not close the schools. Why, well it was a minimum day and it was finals. So we stayed at school/work and the snow fell, now we had to stay but the kids couldnt throw any snow, RIGHT. Now our 1st semester is pushed back a week. So beautiful, lots of pictures and snowball fights at home and two snow days that rolled right into our 3 week christmas vacation YEAH.

Maximums first snow, growled at it from inside and then cautiously checked it out. He soon discovered that it was pretty cool and dashed and romped around.

Kameron tried to chase his brother down the street with this snow ball!

Isnt this beautiful? This only happens so often, there are plenty of threats of snow but rarely this!

My favorite time of this all is the way it looks at night, so bright and GORGEOUS! Those night shots never come out, but if you live in a snow area you know what I mean.



My birthday passed with lots of eating starting with breakfast with my aunt and then lunch with my aunt, a movie and dinner with the hubby and kiddos. I got that coach bag I had on my list and a day at the spa for a massage & facial.

So how was your Christmas? My Christmas was great. I believe I slept in on xmas morn for the first time in my life. I received a great gift I wasnt expecting, a new lens for my camera. Christmas dinner with my Daddy (yes I still call him Daddy), a beautiful clear day. Hope you dont mind a few late xmas pictures and cards.


This is a old PSX stamp I believe 1997, isnt it just classic.


My living room at Christmas.


If it was not for my sisters from the Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers, I probably wouldnt have any readers. For all (sisters & visitors)who still occasionally stop by to see if I have become unextinct THANK YOU!!

Please stop by again for more belated postings and my BLOGGERVERSARY contest!

Until later alligator

12 days until Christmas

Hello there, whatcha got going on for today? Me a holiday reunion party with my junior and highschool friends. Dosent that sound like fun, I cant wait.

Hows the christmas shopping going? I did some shopping last night at the mall with Hubby.Theres some fantastic sales out there Dillards has 30% off there Coach and Dooney&Burk hand bags.Thats the one of the items on my 2 item christmas/birthaday list, I really want a new hand bag. We will see! The other item is the Pixie sewing machine by Singer thats just for papercrafting and embellshing fabrics. Its smaller than a singer, a just right size for us crafters.I have a confession when I shop for christmas I do alot of ME shopping as well. But I feel okay with that because my birthday is Christmas eve and theres never anything to do but go out to dinner or see a movie. I cant see a concert (who performs on chrstmas eve)or shop (way to crazy out there to enjoy it), not many dinner parties because that would require friends and family to drive 45 min to my house and if its a work day theres work traffic. I gave myself a dinner party the 2 years in a row because my birthday actually fell on a weeekend.There are alot of things to consider when planning anything for my birthday. Restarants even close early. Enough rambling, its feeling alot like winter here in So Cali were even expecting snow in my desert are, wouldnt that be perfect.

Check out the GORGEOUS cookie recipe I posted


Makes: 48
Prep: 45 min.
Bake: 10 min. per batch


2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder
8 ounces sweet baking chocolate, chopped
2 teaspoons shortening
Edible gold luster dust (optional)
Directions
1. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat about 2 minutes or until fluffy, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and espresso powder. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour mixture (dough will be crumbly). Use your hands to form the dough into a ball. Divide dough in half.

2. Preheat oven to 350F. Roll each half of the dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out shapes using a 2-1/2-inch star-shape cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm. Transfer to wire racks and let cool.

3. Microwave chopped chocolate and shortening in a small microwave-safe bowl on 50 percent power about 2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring three times.

4. Dip one-third of each cookie into melted chocolate mixture; let excess drip back into bowl. Place cookies on waxed paper; let stand about 1 hour or until set. If desired, brush luster dust on chocolate. Makes 48 cookies.

5. To store: Place cookies in layers separated by pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies, if frozen, before serving.

Does this make you want to bake, have you done any baking? The holidays does something to me and I crave the the action of baking, the smell of goodies in the oven and of course the eating of anything baked. I thought I would post some pics of the sights of christmas at my house, these will be going in my 25 days of christmas album.


One of my treasured ormaments are these ceramic santas, there on the tree every year


I think these glittered apples are the most gorgeous thing on my tree. I found them for a great price @Home Goods


A bit of the bannister on the stairs


Beautiful poinsettas that sit on my coffee table



Heres a peek at my tree


I enjoy the house at christmas, the golds, and oranges and the smell of my Yankee candle that smells just like a real pine tree.

Okay heres a card I made using Martha Stewart set called Toy Transportation. It has taken weeks to finish this card, its driving me crazy that I am so slow.



Toodles

A little joy for today

I hope that your 2nd day of December was a beautiful day.It is sunny and warm here in Cali. I pulled the christmas tree out, Iam a little behind here. This should have been done last week. I will start posting my 25 days of christmas photos starting tomorrow. I have some great making memories papers to put in it, OH and I have a close to my heart order arriving tomorrow. WOOHOO, I finally broke down and ordered loads of new items. One of them is a acrylic album to make my 25 days of christmas.

Okay I am off to bed, Iam still on vacation mode here, you know staying up ubber late and sleeping in while on vacation. Well vacation is over and my body still wants to stay up late, even though I have to get up @5:30.






Good Night

Stories in Hand

3rd day posting, Im on a roll!!!

Heres my stories in hand book, I couldnt find what I was looking for which was a 3 ring binder 6x6 board book. So I took a kids board book I picked up at the dollar store and created a book. I wanted my book binder in the inside off the book like a school binder. I like how this came out, I just need to fill it up so its nice a thick. I am not doing the class day by day (time is my issue) its great that I can log in and work on my own. What do ya think of my book? I really like my felt flowers I created myself!!!

If your just stopping by after my month lont hiatus scroll down for the last two post.

Thanks Sue!! for telling me how to pre schedule my post.






Toodles

$1 finds

Woohoo second post this weekend, scroll down to see what I showed yesterday. I found this cute christmas bulb stamp in the dollar bin @Michaels, the ribbon too. I love it!

Something to share if anyone is still around

I am going to make a huge effort to post once a week,I just cant create daily like so many fantastic blogs I visit. I didnt realize it had been 1 month since I last posted. Are you all ready for the holidays, Iam excited for Thanksgiving, the house smelling good with all the different dishes cookig and simmering, the laughter of everyone when we get together. Catching up with everyone we just dont see each other enough. Then bringing all the christmas boxes in to decorate on friday.
Today Iam sharing a couple of 3x3 cards I made for a gift.

Can anyone tell me how to schedule my saved post to post on scheduled dates. Thanks




Stamp set and paper by CTMH

Toodles

A FREE online class

With Jessica Sprague, click here for more details. Im all signed up and cant wait, this will be my first online class.




Another thing to share, Ali Edwards had a GREAT challenge on her blog. This is going to be so much fun to do, I plan on starting my week in the life this weekend. What a awesome way to document the day to day life of me, the kids, the hubby, even the doggie!!

TA-TA

A little somethng to start your weekend

How many of you join online stamp parties? Last week I tried for a second time in this life time and boy are they hard to keep up with.I done Bella and unity stamp company. Unity stamp company has a blog hop every thursday, you can win up to $300 in unity stamps and also do challenges to win more stamps. I dont know, maybe I should just buy those stamps and forget attempting to party the 2008 way. Anyhoo here are my swap contributions. Lots of cutting, glitter and pop dots.

I have a love hate relationship with prisma glitter!!











This card had very little cutting, BUT more beloved glitter!!

Tomorrow is FRIDAY, I have only worked a few days this week BUT Iam still glad for tomorrow.

Anybody going to see the SECRET LIFE OF BEES? Iam meeting my aunt/BFF for a movie night!!


All supplies by CTMH

The WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS Erica, send me your snail mail addie and your stamp set will go out in the mail.

Thanks ladies for participating and spreading the news.

Check back this weekend I am working on 3 swaps, they will be completed by the end of the weekend.

What a day

Do you ever have days where nothing seems to go right? I had one of those days and by late afternoon my head was banging BIG TIME, couple of motrin and a iced coffee should do the trick. Heres a little more christmas for you,these are the last two christmas cards from my workshop.


I should pick a card to duplicate for my christmas cards, want to help? Tell me which one you think I should use and take your chance at winning a CTTMH acrylix stamp set. This is official BLOG CANDY ALERT. Post this ALERT on your blog and be entered twice. Post your blog link here in my comments section so I know you posted the alert. Closing this alert 10/8.



Four season stamp set by CTMH
Cardstock by CTMH
Liquid applique by CTMH



Evergreen stamp set by CTMH
Cardstock by CTMH
Misc ribbon
Cuttle Bug template

More Christmas for you

Im trying to get back to the blogging game, I hope that some of my visitors will return. Here are two more cards from my Christmas in September workshop.





Stamp set by CTMH, Winter Memories
Cardstock by CTMH
Misc ribbon
Prisma glitter by CTMH



Stamp set by CTMH, Frosty Borders
Cardstock by CTMH
Misc ribbon

OH Where does the time go?

Has it really been almost a month since I last posted? Have you deleted my blog from your favorites? Have you considered nominating me for the WORST BLOGGER EVA AWARD? I dont know what it is but I have been extremly tired lately. I have just not had the ENERGY or the want to get on and visit my daily reads, passing my craft studio and opting to lay in bed and watch tv or glue my bum to the sofa in the family room. I hardly ever sit down there, even my kiddos have come down stairs to hang out.


So I teach at my sons High school and sometimes I run into them on campus, I never bother them or approach them to talk. One day I was going to my oldest sons class with him to talk with his teacher and I ran smack into my youngest son and a group of his friends. They were actually standing in front of the the very class I needed to enter. So I moseyed right up to them and started talking. My youngest son wanted to just disappear. At the end of the day when we got in the car to go home our conversation went like this.

son " Mom why would you do that"

Me " What so bad about it"

son " its just bad, its embarrassing"

Me " why is it embarrassing"

son "it just is, I cant explain it"

me " all your friends know I work here, you told them"

son " they forgot you work here"

me " i dont think so, please explain the embarresment"

son " how would you feel if you were having a workshop and I came downstairs in my underware"

Well I had a workshop coming up the following saturday, do you think he did it?

Here are the cards we created, I think I will break them up and that way I will have someything new to share for at least three days.

Also I have several brand new acrylic stamp sets from CTMH that need a good home, make sure you visit on friday for details!



This card uses another new color Creme Brule cardstock and ribbon



This card uses our two new colors, Tulip and Juniper.

All sets used are new sets featured in the new Close to my Heart fall/winter idea book.

PS DONT FORGET THAT TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER THE MEGA DRAWING FOR $1000.00 worth of CTMH goodies. Enter on my website.


Until tomorrow