from Me to You

Wishing you the Merriest Christmas!

>^..^<

checking it twice

This little girl is getting so excited for Christmas. Everytime she sees any unicorn on the TV she announces that Santa is going to bring her one. She's so full of faith it tickles me happy. ;o)

This year I am in charge of the Christmas center pieces so I created some winter scenic jars inspired from here. It was a lot of fun to make and super easy. I repurposed some spaghetti and pickle jars I had on hand and added a little holiday snow and small deco accents and voila. A winter village.

Hey, if I can't have a white Christmas outside, this is the next best thing.

So Christmas is right around the corner. Are you ready?

>^..^<

winter camp out

'cause we're crazy like that.

I can't tell you the last time I went camping. Seriously, I think it was for Young Women's which was a couple of decades years ago. shhh. But when Maribel asked if I was coming with her and Joe and that I could sleep in her tent (which was pitched in the backyard) with her how could I say no? Especially when I could hear the excitement in her asking? So I surrendured the comforts of the indoors and picked up some weiners and 'shmellows and proceeded to have a pleasant evening.

Sure it was a little chilly (for Florida's standards-like, in the mid 40's) but we all just snuggled up in our sleeping bags and told altered Fairy Stories to include Maribel in them until we all fell asleep. I have to admit, it was nice to hear nature sing it's night time song again. The icing to my cake?  I didn't see one spider. Yessss!!!

I just might rethink the "NO camping" rule...

>^..^<

10 more sleeps

We finally pulled out the tree and decorations this evening which helps it to feel more like Christmas. I don't know what it is but until I have those twinkling lights luminating the room, it seems like Christmas is still so far away. Well, it's not. I just checked and it's only 10 sleeps away! Which also means I only have 10 more days left of my December Daily album. I am really enjoying this album and journey even if it keeps me up late most evenings.

Anybody else's looking this phat? I hope I can find larger binder rings because these ones are already getting to be too small.

I just realized I still have to wrap everything. That's just dandy...
>^..^<

snow? in Florida???

While freezing walking around Downtown Disney looking for a certain "man in red" something landed on my cheeks and stopped me in my tracks. It's been over 5 years since I got to chill with the white stuff. Sure it was fake but it brought back all those childhood memories of trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue, batting them off my eyelashes, and of course remembering how they loved to fly up my nose. It was pure bliss.

For our Family Home Evening we paid a visit to see this guy. Maribel was so excited that she didn't care that it was 39F out. I know, I know, living here has made me a little soft but this was chilly even in my standards. We made sure to bring along a super warm blanket but she shucked that as soon as it was her turn.

I got my wish. Maribel was more then happy to sit on Santa's lap and make her request for a Unicorn Pillow Pet. After all she has been good all year. Well, as far as 3 year old's go.  ;0)

She pointed out a few new grey hairs this morning. I pointed out that she put them there.

>^..^<

oh Christmas tree...where are you?

This is my MIL's tree that Maribel helped decorate and let's me know that she helped decorate it every chance she gets. She's proud of this tree. When I asked her to stand next to it so I could try out the fun aperture discs for my Lensbaby, she was more than happy to oblige...for a moment.

I love how the lights turn into what ever shape the disc is. I have a snowflake punch that a friend hooked me up with that I can't wait to try. How fun would that be to be surrounded with snowflakes without the snow?

Our tree is still up in the closet. I guess with 13 days left until Christmas I better get crackin', eh?

>^..^<

slow off the start....

...but I'm getting there.
I finally completed my first three days of my December Daily album. It's not that I haven't thought about it or anything, it's just that I literally haven't had the time to sit and play with paper and glue. Last night I locked myself in my room and finished the three days and set the rest of the album up so I can get caught up. I'm not throwing in the towel yet!

Day 1: The Advent Tradition

The Day 1 overlay was just a vellum sheet cut down to size and embossed using the Cuttle Bug and decorated with the number tag from Echo Park (you'll see more of those through out this album) and the "Merry Christmas" strip from My Mind's Eye.

Journaling: and so it begins. December is always full of magic and traditions. I can't wait to see what is in store for us. <3

Day 2: Bear Hugs

This day I printed my favourite scripture on service on an oversized HO3 tag, vintage lace and journaling about staying up late making several of the Bear Hug service cards and about my calling and how much I have grown in the past year. I plan on making some more of these to put under my family's tree this year. Shhh it's a surprise. ;o)

Just a peek of the inside of the card :D
Day 3: Sugar Cookies

For this day used my Cuttle Bug to emboss the vellum Day 3 overlay and Stickled every. single. dot. For the 3 tag I used Echo Park and some vintage lace I picked up in Canada. The Holly Jolly paper is Fancy Pants  and the photos were taken with my fancy new phone. Gotta love the funky Retro Camera app (cookie sheet photo)!

So here it is. As I find what precious time I have to complete these days I will continue to update here for that added accountability. My goal is finish up any loose projects so I can start the new year with a clean slate. But that's for another post. ;o)

>^..^<

mother, I miss you

Mother, I love you; mother, I do.

Father in Heaven has sent me to you.

When I am near you, I love to hear you

Singing so softly that you love me too.

Mother, I love you; mother, I do.

I want to help you because I love you.

I want to mind you; I want to find you

Happy and smiling because I love you.

Mother, I love you; I love you, I do.

Today would have been my mother's 70th birthday. It's been almost 8 years since her passing and I miss her more then words could ever express. It never gets easier but I still have peace in my heart knowing she's busy doing the Lord's work, and that brings me so much comfort. 

Someday we will see each other again...and that day will be glorious.

Thanks Vic for this photo of Mom. She was so beautiful.
>^..^< 

no peeking

Have you ever snooped for presents only to find out they weren't yours? That happened to me one year. I snooped in my parents closet and found all these fun toys and dropped hints to my parents with little sayings like, "Gee I sure would like a guitar for Christmas." and "Oh wouldn't a Popple be fun to play with right about now?" Well Christmas morning came and guess who DIDN'T get a guitar or a Popple? That's right, me. Guess who DID get a guitar and a Popple? Yeh, my sister. That was the first, and last time I snooped for presents. Plus it takes away the surprise come Christmas morning.

Well, in my family we have a Snooper McSnoopersten and this year I discovered a way to keep her/him (but we all know who it is...) guessing. With scratch off tags. I used this technique at Skrap n' Chat but thought it too good to not share here as well.

For this project you will need dish soap, dixie cups or disposable cups of any sort, a craft measuring spoon, silver acrylic paint, paint brush, scissors, tape (to keep the laminate from curling) and stamps which are totally optional.
You won't need that much dish soap but it's the only bottle I had to photograph. I also forgot to add the scissors in the picture too. Ooo and you can pick up the Peel and Stick Clear Laminate at your local Wal-Mart for a couple dollars.

You will want to mix two parts paint with one part dishsoap and stir but be careful not to make any bubbles. It likes to do that if you go a little stir crazy. yuk yuk. *wiping tear from eye* Anywho, cut out a piece of the Laminate and tape down the corners so it doesn't curl on you, then paint several nice thick strokes of the soapy paint coctail and set aside. You can repeat with other paint colours if you would like.

As you can see above how much the paint mixture covers a 12x12 sheet of laminate contact paper. You will want to let it dry completely before doing anything else with it. I advise at least 4 hours to ensure it is dry all the way through. You could set it in front of a fan to speed up the drying time.
This would be a great time to make and write out your tags. Just make sure you know who's tags are for whom when you attach it to the gift or Betty Lou might get Anna's gift while Joe got Maribel's if you know what I mean. ;o)

Once it's completely dry you can stamp and write on the painted surface as you wish and cut it out. Then when you have your tags all ready just peel off the backing and stick away. I couldn't help but make a few extras just to scratch off the paint. Hee hee.

Have a wonderful day and remember, no peeking now!

>^..^<

let the countdown begin

As a kid I remember getting excited when the advent calendars came out. There's something about eating one chocolate a day for 24 days that makes the final (significantly larger chocolate) day so awesome. This year of celebration will be so awesome. I can feel it. When M came home from some fun time with her Aunty Anna, she saw the advent tree and got so excited. "It's A Christmas Tree! It's Christmas Tree!"

I have so many fun things planned this month to celebrate this blessed season with crafts, baking, favourite Christmas films, stories, and scriptures. Sure this month will most likely fly by like all the others but I plan on soaking in as much of it as possible. I don't want to forget a single thing.

>^..^<