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Here are my New Year's Resolutions. There is something about the New Year that gives one a fresh start feeling - like the slate has been wiped cleaned - Do Over! So I am looking forward to cleaning and organizing and starting fresh. How about you what are your resolutions for the new year?
and just because everyone needs some chocolate ...
and to stay healthy ...
Christmas this year was lovely just lovely. I was relaxed and actually enjoyed myself instead of trying to make everything perfect. I let it flow - and it went so smoothly - lesson to self! Looking through my pictures made me think about how much joy the day held. Here are just a few of my favorite things ... what are yours about the season?
Now to some this may not look like bliss but for me it is a luxury. Our family goes to Mammoth Mountain every year for the week after Christmas til after New Years to ski. I also get time to do things I usually don't have time for - like this little project. I have been buying magazines and keeping a stash just for this. My idea is to take last years desk calendar (which I love btw as it looks like a vintage ledger) and cut out my favorite images and make a sort of journal out of it.
Here is the lovely journal and pics of the inside - you can purchse this years (already have of course and several for my friends) from amazon here
In Tune with Nature: 2008 Desk Calendar
Many Many luscious mags filled with eye candy.
Sad news today .... my favorite store The Paper Post is closing its doors for good. It seems that all the independent stores - book, art, stamp, fabric, etc. are being swallowed up by the big boys. I swear soon 5 companies will own everything. It saddens me to lose the personal touch of such a wonderful store and the lovely ladies who owned it - Good luck to you Sue Nan and Aileen in whatever new adventure awaits you.
The boys and I were feeling better today and were up for some gingerbread house creations! I bought the kits from Trader Joes and made my own royal icing and our own candies. I also made my family recipe biscotti cookies in anise and lemon.
Grayson's House
Payton's house
Well, here we are the sickies! Payton has strep, Grayson the flu and guess what Mommy has strep too! The boys rally so quickly a little antibiotics and you wouldn't even know they were sick the way they run around. I got antibiotics yesterday and am feeling better - I am bound and determined not to let it quash my Christmas Spirit! So here we are this morning all snuggles and smiles - I know, I know sounds really cheesy but hey at least we are all smilin'
I hope this brings a smile to your face and some Christmas Cheer!
Today was a day of of parties - holiday parties that is ... Both boys had their school parties today and then we had our own. I decided to have a cookie decorating and holiday tea. The kids had a blast. I made many many many sugar cookies the day before and layed out the icing, and jimmies and chips to decorate them. I served lemon ginger and sour cherry scones and tea sandwiches - olives bread with goat cheese and smoked turkey, olive bread with goat cheese and cherry preserves, brown anise bread with sharp white cheddar and ham, and pb and j cut out with snowman and gingerbread cookie cutters. Everyone had a great day - I am exhausted but it was totally worth it! Some great memories to be sure.
Here are the results of the 12 days of Christmas Swap that I hosted. Everyone did a fabulous job! I have one extra swap package and thought in the spirit of the season I should give it away! So leave a bit of Christmas Cheer on this post and I will choose a lucky little elf to send it to!
Tricia Stirling
Sherry Harris
Donna Cartenega
Michelle Haan
Me!
*If any of the participants have a blog link that I missed please let me know so I can add it to this post!*
Every year I make my Christmas cards and every year they look completely different. this year is no exception. I was quite happy with the way they turned out even though it wasn't originally what I had planned. I used preglittered (is that a word?) notecards, attached a copy of a photoshop doc of our pics with eyelets, stuck on a self adhesive crystal and tied it up with seam binding. Fairly easy and a fun look.
I decided to make some ornaments for my own family tree - Monograms - very jolly indeed!
