Christmas is a week from this Saturday. That's right - ten days away. Today I worked on Christmas cards (I have very inky fingers right now). It will be a couple more days at least until they're ready to mail. That means I am behind. Way behind. Lots to do this time of year, as it says in The Grinch: "The presents! The ribbons! The wrappings! The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings!" But this year we're having a pared-down Christmas, with pared-down decorations. It's nice. A bit more peaceful, and quieter than usual. But I still want to get the cards mailed, and I have some baking to do, and fudge to make, and friends to visit, and my hair needs cutting... and parties to attend... and on top of that we are starting to pack because we're moving at the end of next month. Makes me tired thinking about it.
But then again, it makes me grateful to have so many good things in my life, starting with my amazing hubby and two incredible kids. They make me so happy!
Oh, and another thing that makes me happy? Hazelnut Rolled Wafers from Cost Plus World Market. They are lovely. Try some. And the Vanilla and Lemon flavors are pretty tasty too.
Well, it's my goal tonight to be in bed before midnight, so I gotta get to it. Good night!
"Bless us, Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind. Teach us to be patient and always to be kind." —Helen Steiner Rice
My girl flew back to Utah today. Boooooo. She really wanted to stay longer and I really wanted her to stay longer but her ticket was nonrefundable and it would have cost an unreasonable amount to change it. Besides, she had work and other things to attend to and she needed to get back to real life. Steph looked so good and she was so happy - it did my heart good to see her! We shared an early Christmas with her yesterday, including a stocking full of treats from Santa that she took with her on the plane. Oh, how I love my girl! We are proud parents.
A storm is coming in. Heavy rains are predicted for tomorrow. I lamented the warm weather in my last post, and I guess I got my wish - cold and wet weather on its way! But we need the moisture now or next summer will be unbearable.
I thought I'd share 
a simple layered Christmas card today. It features the Holly Collage stamp from Memory box, some distress inks, Prismacolor pencils, liquid pearls, and some yummy dotted ribbon. A simple earthy Christmas greeting. Love it!
Tomorrow is a big day - we're having the inspections done on the home we're planning to purchase. These inspections will show us if there are any hidden problems lurking, or if the house has a clean bill of health and we can buy it. We should have an answer by the end of the week, then if we decide to proceed we'll probably be able to close escrow by mid-January and move by the first of February. Fingers crossed that all goes well! It's been a long year in this rental home.
Ok, that's it for me. Sore back and tired brain. Good night!
"There is nothing wrong with change if it is the right decision." —Winston Churchill
I live in the central valley of northern California. I love California. The weather is mild, as everyone knows. I grew up here, most of my family and loved ones are here, and this is my home. But I think I am needing to go see and touch some snow sometime soon. It's been too warm here lately, and it's starting to affect my Christmas spirit just a bit (it's supposed to be almost 70 degrees this weekend, for heaven's sake!). It's hard to feel very Christmas-y with the back door open and the ceiling fan running because I got too warm just from vacuuming the floor... I'm just sayin.' And yes, there IS snow in California, not too very far from here, actually. Should take less than an hour to get there. Maybe we'll bundle up tomorrow, jump in the car and head eastward into the mountains to see some winter wonder for ourselves. Sounds fun!!
Anyhoo, I do love this time of year. It's wonderful. Steph is home for a visit, we are all together, I actually got my ENTIRE house cleaned this week, and I am almost finished with my Christmas shopping. And we got some really good news on the house-hunting front today. Getting closer to that dream home! Yay!
Okay, it's late. Time for some sweet dreams. Good night!
"Christmas waves its magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." —Norman Vincent Peale
Well, here we are on the last day of the first week of the final month of 2010. Only 18 days until Christmas! And only two days until my Steph comes to visit! Oh, happy times. We've been getting lots of rain here lately, but there's also been plenty of lovely sunshine between the storms. Life is good.
Here's a Christmas card that was really fun to make. The greeting is my design from THIS clear set (or get it individually HERE). I used a Hero Arts powder card and snow layering paper, plus Memory Box paper from their Holiday Greetings 6x6 paper pack. Other stamps I used were Hero Arts Cling Dots (the blue dots in the background) and the tree is from the Hero Arts CL465 set, "Tree Mendous." Inks used were Hero Arts Cerulean Chalk Ink, Punch Chalk Ink, and Tim Holtz Peeled Paint Distress Ink. The snow hills are lined with Rock Candy Distress Stickles (quite sparkly and nice IRL). Snowflake Gems and red pearls on the tree are from Memory Box. Oh, and everything's layered up with foam dimensionals, which you can't see in the picture but they make the card extra fun!
I hope everyone's holiday preparations are going well. Remember to keep it simple and focus on the true meaning of this wonderful season!
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." —Calvin Coolidge
Happy Monday! Here we are with almost a week of December gone already. I had the opportunity this past weekend to participate again in a wonderful Christmas boutique hosted by my amazingly talented and so-nice friend Sydne. I made and sold (and got pre-orders for more) lots-o-pans of frozen take-and-bake cinnamon rolls, as well as both chocolate and peanut butter fudge. It was great fun. Last year I also sold cards and Christmas ornaments at the boutique, but this time I decided to simplify and it was, I believe, a good decision. Everything was sold and I made some extra money for Christmas, for which I am most excited!
My Steph is coming home for a visit this week, and I can't wait to see her! I was thinking last night what a huge change it's been for our family to have her gone. When you have two children and one of them moves away, it makes such a difference. I know that David misses his sister even more than he says he does. And I also know that it won't be long before David also leaves home, then it will just be Rich and I. Where have the years gone? How did we get so old? Sometimes I sit and think about all we've been through, and where we are now, and what the future may hold, and my head just spins at the wonder of it all. Life goes so fast!
"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let others spend it for you." —Carl Sandburg
"How long is a minute? Depends on which side of the bathroom door you're on." —Zall's Second Law
As I run out the door, here's a quick thought on happiness today, sent to me by my sweet friend Adrienne:
"All people bring happiness into our lives... some by coming, and others by going." —anonymous
What a beautiful, crisp and lovely December morning it is here in northern California! Just a little bit of frost, and several of the trees are still showing brilliant colors against a stunningly blue sky. What an amazing world we live in! It's gor-gee-ous!
Can you believe it's already December? 2010 has gone by in a flash. Looking back, I can remember that lots of things have happened, but wow how time has flown. I'm looking forward to next week when Steph flies home (speaking of flying!) for a short visit. She has to work on Christmas day (and she also had to work on Thanksgiving), so she's squeezing in some family time in between holidays. I can't wait to hug my girl!
Thought I'd share a Christmas card today. This one is built on a Hero Hues Grenadine card, stamped with my favorite Hero Arts Branch Background in Punch Chalk Ink. Very subtle and a little hard to see in the photo, but nice IRL. The red star behind the sentiment is from the Hero Arts Swirl Christmas clear set, and the "Wise Men Still Seek Him"sentiment is my design, available as part of THIS clear set or as a rubber stamp HERE. Black ink is Memento Tuxedo Black, and I popped the sentiment with some foam dimensionals and a small piece of black cardstock to frame it. Added some red gems (Hero Hues mixed accents) and some red grosgrain ribbon from my stash. Lovely, simple, and some may say a little masculine. I call it classy.
OK - off to work. Things are starting to wind down over at the Stampin' Treasures Going Out of Business Sale, but there are still lots of goodies in the warehouse and everything is now 50% off retail. Go over to the website and get yourself some stuff! And Diane is preparing for a big warehouse sale in January, so everyone who is within driving distance to the Sacramento area should get on her email list and stay tuned for more info about that. It will be an amazing sale! Oh, and let me say, Diane, you are the greatest! I love you!
"Friendship isn't a big thing... it's a million little things." —unknown
