Record Those Holiday Memories

By now most of us have our holiday parties and celebrations out of the way. You've taken tons of photos and you don't know what to do with them. Well...I have a solution :) Store and record your memories in one of these lovely scrapbooks or photo albums!!!

FAMILY Word Scrapbook Album-Red and Green

FAMILY Word Scrapbook Album-Hunter and Maroon

Happy Holidays Scrapbook Photo Album-Simply Stunning Series

Merry Christmas Scrapbook Photo Album-Simply Stunning Series

Merry Christmas Scrapbook Photo Album-Simply Stunning Series

(Note: The Simply Stunning Series Albums are currently sold out...but I would be more than happy to make you one...just convo or email me!)

So get those photos printed out and ready to put in your new album!!!

Wordless Wednesday-Winter Beauty

My New Miche Bag!!!

I'm usually a bargain shopper...a cheap bargain shopper! I have a limit on what I'm willing to spend on clothes and accessories. (When it comes to scrapbooking stuff this doesn't apply...LOL!) But when I find something I immediately fall in love with, I'm willing to spend a little extra :)

That's exactly what happened when I walked into a little gift shop and spotted this Miche Bag!!! OMG...Pink and the perfect size!!!

Since my purse was stolen back in May, I've had two other purses, but they just weren't exactly what I wanted. I've been carrying this purse for a week now...and I still LOVE it!!!

The coolest thing about this bag is that it has a pink shell...meaning it can be taken off and replaced with another color, design or style!!! I love the versatility! I got to thinking that a photo shell would be awesome, so I hopped over to their website and found that they make one :)

And how cool would this one be for the holidays next year!!!

And the best part was...Mom saw how much I loved it and bought it for me :) I told you she was the best, didn't I!!!

Wish List Update

My Wish List is coming along nicely :) I've gotten quite a few items crossed off my list and am working on more!

Mom and I have been shopping twice now and we're going again today! And we've been to the casino once (and I won!!!) and we're going again today as well! We've eaten out almost every day since my parents have been here...and all the places I've wanted to go :)

I haven't had a chance to go hunting with my dad yet, but we did get to spend an entire day together on Wednesday :) We still have all this week to go.

I hope you got/are getting everything on your list this year :)

It was a White Christmas

A nice dusting would have been plenty...but we got the whole shebang!!! It started raining and sleeting on Wednesday this week, but the temps were high enough it wasn't freezing...yet! Thursday morning was the same situation...more rain and sleet. It finally turned to big fluffy snowflakes in the afternoon...it really was pretty :) The drive home that night was not so pretty! Snow is one thing...but the wind is another! There were so many snow drifts and the plows hadn't been on any of the roads close to our house! We even had to reschedule a Christmas get-together because of the weather! Luckily Jesse is a good driver and got us home safe...even when the snow flew up over the hood of the pickup!!!

Yesterday was much of the same...some snow, some sleet...more mess! We thought we were going to have to ride the snowmobiles to Christmas! Luckily a snow plow came by as we were making up our mind as to what to do! The roads still weren't the best with the wind still blowing!

Today is much better :) There is a very light snow...you can barely see it. And the wind isn't blowing at all. We still don't have a driveway! I'm not sure how you lose a driveway...but ours is missing! We've been having to drive up and down the bank to get out of the yard!

As you can see from these photos...I'm not going anywhere anytime soon! Jesse took the truck today...so I'm home relaxing! My mom and dad are on their way over and we'll just stay in and have fun together :)

It's a good thing Harley likes to be outside...these drifts are taller than he is!!!

Hope everyone is staying warm and staying safe!!!

Friday Features-MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~MERRY CHRISTMAS*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

If you read yesterday's post, you know that some of my family traditions are annual family photos, playing cards, and drinking champagne. So today's features involve these wonderful traditions :)

Here is our Annual Family Photo from yesterday. It's a little blurry and we're not all looking...but it's still a wonderful photo :) And the great part is...there were 20 people taking pictures, so someone was bound to get a great one!

I found this really cool Custom Watercolor Portraits 8x10 on Etsy...how awesome would our family photo look in a watercolor!!!

And we'd be right up town drinking out of these Red Holiday Lights Champagne Flutes!

And I do believe everyone in my family needs one of these Set of 4 Playing Card Ornaments to remember all of the many card games played through the years :)

What traditions does your family celebrate? Look to Etsy to find great handmade items to commemorate those traditions :)

Christmas Eve Traditions

Today is our big family Christmas celebration day :) It may just be the most fun we have all year!!! It is so wonderful to get together with family and have such a great time!

Each year there are several things we do out of tradition. The first being our annual family photos. We have been taking these since before I was born! Here is our photo from last year.

We also eat the same food every year. We have a pot luck and everyone brings the same food :)

Our family loves to play cards. Each year we gather round the kitchen table and play as many card games as we can get it!

Pink champagne is another tradition :) It only comes out on Christmas and it is a family favorite!

A new tradition we started a few years ago is a gift exchange game. Each person brings a guy or girl gift and then the gifts can be stolen, traded, and passed around. It can be pretty exciting...and loud...LOL :)

I'm excited to get to my grandparent's today to see everyone and let the fun begin :)

Wordless Wednesday-Sisfur's New Coat

I'm on the Nice List

Do you have to be good ALL year to be on the nice list? Just most of the time right? Well...I must have been a good girl this year because I received a new toy in the mail yesterday!!! Okay, so maybe I had to buy it myself...but a new toy is a new toy :)

If you haven't figured it out by now...I'm a sucker for new scrapbooking toys (tools)! I really have to refrain from buying every single one or my room would be more overflowing than it is!!! I seriously need a bigger room!!!

So what does this new toy do you ask? Well...it laminates and binds scrapbook albums. Binding...didn't I just get a binding machine? Yeah, but this one is a different style of binding :) To me, this machine puts a more professional look on the albums. They look much like the albums you would get from an online photo center like Shutterfly.

So what do I have in store for this new toy? Well...my mind is racing with ideas!!! I want to make catalogs that I can take to craft shows with me. This way I can show off all of my custom work without having to take samples of everything with me. I will also be offering catalogs for sale to others as well. I would also like to make more premade albums where all you have to do is add your photos. And these are a just a couple of ideas I've come up with!

I'll let you know when I get to start playing with my new toy and what I come up with :)

The Glow of Lights

I've had a few people ask what fun and exciting things Jesse and I did for our anniversary. Well...truth be told..it wasn't overly exciting...but it was still a great time :)

We had worked the night before and as usual didn't sleep when we got off work that morning, so we weren't really into any thing exciting. We decided to take Harley for a ride and go visit Jesse's brother to see how the new house is coming along and stopped to see some other friends.

The highlight came when we stopped to see the famous Baird Christmas Lights. When Jesse and I realized that we hadn't been to see them since our first year dating, it made it that much more special :)

Here is a little information I found about the lights. I wish I could find how many years they have been doing this (over 20 I believe)...it really is a sight to be seen! People drive 100s of miles to come see this beautiful sight.

As many as 50,000 lights cover the farmstead, including the house, outbuildings and some of the machinery. Highlights include a church and steeple filled with animated characters, a 10-foot-tall snowman waving from a field, a 70-foot-tall tower made into a Christmas tree and a spaceship. New this year: A lit combine.

And here is some info from the owner: In southwest Iowa, Jack Baird can't imagine a year without his holiday display. He still climbs grain bins as tall as 42 feet to string lights each year, assisted by his partner, Sandy Severn, two sons and two sons-in-law, one of whom is an electrician. "Everyone talks to me and says how much they enjoy it," he said. "As long as I have my health and family helps me, I'll probably do it for several more years."

A Different Kind Of Christmas Wish List

My parents arrived safely yesterday :) So I feel that Christmas can truly begin now!!!

Since we decided to not do much in the way of gifts this year, I didn't really do much looking to see what I wanted to add to my Wish List this year. Instead, I have a different kind of wish list this year :)

Rather than things I want from my parents...I made a list of things I want to do with my parents while they are here :)

This may be the best wish list I've ever had!!!

Waiting

HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

Yup...I needed to shout that :) It's such a great day here at my house! My last day of work for 2009 was yesterday and I don't have to go back until Jan. 4th!!! I also got all of my custom orders done yesterday that had to be mailed out. That only leaves me a couple to finish today for local orders!!!

And...my parents get here today! That's the most exciting part of all!!!

But for some reason, I've had this song stuck in my head all morning...LOL!

Friday Features-Love at First Date!

On this date 10 years ago...Jesse and I had our first date :) It was love at first date and we've been together ever since :) Some days it feels like we've only been together a few years...and other days it feels like we've been together for 50 years...LOL! But all in all it's been a wonderful trip...and I look forward to the next 10 years :)

Happy Anniversary Jesse!

And here are my Friday Features about love and anniversary items...

Sweet Little Initial Necklace...with Crystal Heart

by SusanLoriDesigns

This sample even has mine and Jesse's initials on it :)

Custom Silhouette Couple Portrait

by jennyleefowler

Custom Oathing Stone

by sjengraving

L Letterpress Review and Giveaway

I've had my eye on this little toy ever since I first saw it advertised! I love that it is small enough to store away, yet big enough to do tons of projects!!!

The L Letterpress is also super easy to use! See their 4 step demo here. Yes, you read that right...4 steps!!!

And one of the best things about the L Letterpress is that they now offer Custom Plates! These would be awesome for wedding invitations! You get a 6"x8" space to use for whatever you choose. Use the entire surface, as you will cut the images apart when you receive the plate. Turn your own sketches into a letterpress plate!!!

The L Blog is having a giveaway for one Letterpress Combo Kit and a Custom Printing Plate!!! I would love nothing more than to win this beauty! Stop by and enter yourself...you won't be sorry you did :)

Wordless Wednesday-Peek-a-Boo

Poster Sketch

Joy of TheArtOfJoy had a wonderful idea on her blog the other day! She posted a screen shot of a Poster Sketch from Etsy.

A poster sketch is a preview of what your Treasury could look like if created it. It lets you rearrange items and get your treasury just how you want it so when the time comes, you are all ready for your treasury! And since I'm bad about remembering to try and get treasury spots, but like featuring fellow Etsians...I love this idea! Thanks Joy :)

Here is my first Poster Sketch:

Artists featured (left to right, top to bottom):

1. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TulipsTreasureBox
2. http://www.etsy.com/shop/JennyMJewels
3. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Clover4
4. http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeadedTail
5. http://www.etsy.com/shop/mysticwynd
6. http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeahAnaDesigns
7. http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunshineDaydreamz
8. http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeWithClayAndLove
9. http://www.etsy.com/shop/JennyMJewels
10. http://www.etsy.com/shop/roseworksjewelry
11. http://www.etsy.com/shop/patchfirstshop
12. http://www.etsy.com/shop/PruittDesign
13. http://www.etsy.com/shop/CoffeePotPeople
14. http://www.etsy.com/shop/AKeepersJackpot
15. http://www.etsy.com/shop/storybeader
16. http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleStudioJewels

Can you tell I like pink, purple and teal jewelry :)

CalKat-December Featured EtsyBlogger

Congratulations to CalKat...Kathy and Carrie...for being our Featured EtsyBloggers for December!!!

Not only do Kathy and Carrie run the shop CalKat...they also have 3 other shops...and a blog! These women are busy now!!!

I have chosen one wonderful item from each shop to show you here today :) Stop by and see all the other great items as well!

Starfish Necklace

from CalKat

Ornate Fleur de lis - Artistic Apothecary Bottle

from Ametista

Tree of Life - Mold for Polymer Clay and PMC

from TheClayShoppe

Namaste Pose - Yoga Fairy

from YogaFairies

And stop by their blog, CalKat The Jewelry Junkie, to read more about them and see more of their creations :) Congrats again ladies!!!

Happy National Cocoa Day

I recently got a calendar in the mail that has tons of obscure holidays in it...like National Cocoa Day!!! How fun to celebrate such a day :)

So this morning instead of coffee...I opted for a nice warm cup of hot chocolate...Mmmm!!! I think it tasted even better in this cute cup too :)

So be prepared for even more obscure holiday posts...I've got a 13 month calendar full of them...LOL!!!

Blog Carnival-Favorite Gift

Our host for the December 18th Blog Carnival, LindaB, gave us these two wonderful options this go around:

1. Holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah & Others, what was your favorite gift received? Was it handmade?

2. What are your favorite color combinations? What do you create using those colors?

I decided to go with #1 :)

I've been given a lot of wonderful gifts over the years! As a kid I got great toys like cabbage patch dolls and a bicycle. As a teenager I got a phone for my room and then my own TV!!! As a young adult I started getting really cool clothes and some great jewelry from my grandma.

But I'd have to say my favorite gift was from Jesse :) On our first Christmas together I got one of the greatest gifts...a diamond ring!!! Not an engagement ring, but just a special ring :) So special that 9 years later it is still on the finger I put it on that night! And if I ever get that upgrade I've been waiting for (hint, hint) it will still remain on my finger...just a different one...LOL :)

It may not be big. It may not have been expensive. But it is mine and he gave it to me...that's all that matters to me :)

Friday Features-Let It Snow

With all the snow we got this week...how could I not do a Friday Features on SNOW!!! So here are my snow picks from my favorite team...the EtsyBloggers :)

Mulberry Mittens Felted Wool Crochet

by LazyTcrochet

Peppermint Frost - White Sea Glass Ruby Pendant Necklace

by SuperiorStones

Green Snowman Fabric Ruffled Dog or Cat Collar Cover

by BeadedTail

Let It Snow Blank Handmade Holiday or Seasonal Snowflake Greeting Card

by naturemanipulated

LET IT SNOW hand stamped sterling silver necklace

by PunkyJane

Treasury Lovin'

Margaret of SplendidLittleStars and SparklyPark was super nice and added me to her Frosty Treasury :) I know I'm late in getting this posted! But I wanted to make sure and show off her gorgeous treasury and send her a thank you!!! Better late then never, right?

Thank You Margaret!!!

Wordless Wednesday-Snow Day!!!

Patch's Anniversary Giveaway

My friend and teammate Patch is having a great giveaway at her blog!!! She has had her Etsy shop open for one year and wants to celebrate by giving away some great prizes :)

Here's what you can win:

One of $30.00USD Gift Certificate Two of $10.00USD Gift Certificates Five of $5.00USD Gift Certificates

Two of Muslin Tote Bags

Two of Maybelline Fruity Lip-glosses

JACKPOT One item from PatchFirstShop@Etsy Choose what you want and you will receive that item - all FREE!!!

Stop by her blog to enter to win!!!