Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year!

2007 has been a year of challenges.
I don't remember making them, but I'm sure my resolutions at the beginning were the same as always; lose weight, exercise more, be more organized, have more patience. I think I will resolve the same things for 2008 (why break with tradition) but I have learned a few truths this year that I hope to remember in the year to come.
Don't take mental health for granted, it is just as important as your physical health. Remember to stop and look at the wonder of this world we live in, your email wait, the sunset will not. Take time everyday for yourself, even if it is just a few minutes in the morning to sit in the quiet....no TV.... no radio..... just a few moments of peace before you face the day. Be thankful, be generous, be silly sometimes, and LAUGH!
Welcome 2008, I hope you are a good one!
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Saturday, December 29, 2007

My first digital page


It's nothing fancy, but I think I finally am getting the hang of photoshop elements. I have spent the last couple of days seaching the web for free papers and embellishments to play around with. Poor Randy got quite excited at the concept that this was "free" scrapbooking, but I set him straight and let him know that there was lots of stuff that cost money to download too. These papers were all from Scrap Girls but I've got lots of freebies from Shabby Princess as well. I can't imagine myself ever giving up the hands on papercrafting but this digital stuff could be addictive too, I think!
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Friday, December 28, 2007

Uncle Randy

Everyone who knows us will know that this picture is a big deal! My husband spent 23 years in the military and really wasn't around when our kids were little. He is great with older kids (once they can walk) but he doesn't often hold babies. Kira is such a little sweetie, she hardly made a sound the whole time we were there. Makes me wish for grandchildren (no way I have the energy for a baby anymore).
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Saturday, December 22, 2007

Newest family member

This is my new niece Kira and her big brother Jace. It seems like yesterday that my own kids were this small, where does the time go? Today was my 43rd birthday,Yikes! I spent the day laying around in my jammies, being totally self-indulgent. I looked through magazines, surfed the net, watched TV and ate Chinese takeout with the men in my life.
If nothing else, growing older has taught me to appreciate the little things in life. Here's to getting another year older and another year wiser!
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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Frosty Photo Op



When I left my house for work this morning I couldn't get over how beautiful the frost was on everything. As the sun came up it was just breathtaking and I was wishing I could take the day off to enjoy it. Since I had no choice but to work I ran home at lunch for my camera and snapped a few pictures for posterity (and a future layout). I wasn't really dressed to tromp through snow so I couldn't quite get the shots I wanted but at least I spent a little time today "stopping to smell the roses".

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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Visions of Sugarplums

Tonight was our cookie exchange at the library. I spent more time making the packaging than I did making the goodies inside.
These mints are sooo easy to make and my kids and I used to make them every year. It's just like playing with play dough, roll out long snakes and cut into pieces.
After Dinner Mints

2 1/2 cups icing sugar
3 tbsp butter, softened
2 tbsp cream
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
Food coloring

Mix all ingredients into a fairly stiff dough that is pliable enough to roll. More cream or icing sugar can be added as needed for the right consistency. Divide dough into chucks and tint different colors. Roll into rope 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut into pieces. Let stand on waxed paper for several hours (at least overnight).


Strawberry Cheesecake Truffles

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup strawberry jam
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup chocolate wafer crumbs
Sweetened flakes coconut or chocolate wafer crumbs.

Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add jam and beat until blended. Add melted chocolate chips and vanilla; beat until smooth. Beat in crumbs and blend. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm enough to handle. Shape into 1 inch balls, roll in coconut or crumbs to coat. Store, layered with wax paper, in an airtight container in refrigerator for up to one week. May be frozen.



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Joy to the World


Yesterday was a happy day in our family with the arrival of a new little girl, Kira Emily, born to my brother and his wife. Amanda has been the only granddaughter for almost 22 years so we are very excited about this new little family member. We won't be making the drive to see the baby until they are back at home, but I can now go shopping for pink things! Yeah! I really wanted to make a little pink card last night but I have a few more Christmas cards to make so it will have to wait.

I really like this stamp set, CTMH Victorian Snowflakes.
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Saturday, December 15, 2007

Oh Christmas Tree!






The tree just wasn't finished until the kids (who are 19 and 21) came home to hang their ornaments. Going shopping for just the right ornament for each of them has always been something that Randy and I do together. Whether we were commemerating Aaron's love of chocolate milk or Amanda's love of the Power Puff Girls, each one brings back memories of Christmases gone by.
Tonight was snowy and windy, perfect for staying inside and watching Christmas movies (and surfing the net looking for layout ideas)!
Tomorrow I am helping my daughter decorate her new apartment. After almost three years of living out of boxes, it is time for her to unpack and make a home of her own.
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Monday, December 10, 2007

December Sketch Challenge

I made this card for a sketch challenge tonight while I was waiting for Randy to get home. I will be so glad when he finishes up these last couple of wiring jobs. Since he was elected (to Town Council in our little corner of the world) he has no time to dabble in contracting. He has finally agreed to only pull as many permits a year as he needs to keep his status.
I really should have been wrapping Christmas presents but I wanted to spend a little time in the craft room. Yesterday was a marathon house cleaning day, so today after working all day and then going back to work for an evening meeting, I think I deserved a little break.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Winter Wonder

This is a card I made for my first ever Close to My Heart swap. It is much "sparklier" in person. It was all CTMH products except for the punches: Sweef leaf and Crystal Blue inks and papers; Winter Wonder and Magical Season stamps. I am in love with textured cardstock and I distress everything! LOL!
Wednesdays are my favorite days at the library for two reasons; It is story time and I love to see all the preschoolers & It is the day the van comes with new books! Yeah! The van also brings inter-library loans and I love to see people get excited because a book they have been waiting for has arrived. Today it brought me a Martha Stewart Christmas book that has a neat snowflake pop-up card in it. Guess what I have planned for tonight? The snowflakes outside have me in the Christmas spirit, so I am going to decorate my big tree and then hit the craft room! (BTW, I lost 2 more lbs! Yippee!)
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Tuesday, December 4, 2007

At last!


I had to laugh when I saw the cover of the new CTMH Idea Book! "At Last" is exactly how I was feeling! I saw this morning that my books were out for delivery and I had to wait until I got home from work to see it!

Despite the snow that fell all day we had a few kids at the library tonight making paper snowflakes with Anita when a reporter for the local paper stopped in to wait for the council meeting next door to start. Kids love to see themselves in the paper and it was a great photo op! I worked for ten hours today so I think I deserve to spend some time with a latte drooling over my new Idea Book!
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

OK, I know it is only December 4th but everything is covered in snow and I just couldn't wait! My trees are up (yes I did say trees) and almost all decorated. I bought some new cinnamon scented pinecones at Michaels and the house smells scrumptious! I love this time of year! I will take some pictures and post them later this evening. Tonight is craft night at the library and since our contract staff is done I am helping a volunteer who is coming to make paper snowflakes with the kids.
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