gone but not forgotten!!!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!!! I had grand plans of scheduling posts (or at least ONE post) before I left for vacation . . . .but clearly it did not happen! We left right after Christmas, to escape to the mountains. And here we are, hiding at my parents' cabin, sledding, throwing snowballs, eating large amounts of gingerbread cookies and biscotti, drinking cocoa, playing with the electric train, and celebrating Christmas with my parents. The snow is AMAZING, and we are having a magical time! And I didn't bring my computer!!! So to tide you over, until I get home, here are a few quick pictures of us in the snow! I hope you are staying warm and having a wonderful week! I'll be back in 2011!!!!

unity cuties and yummy treats!

Well well, look at me. . . .here twice in one week already! Impressive, I know! Other than wrapping and cleaning, I am finally starting to feel like things are settling down, and although we have things to do, I am ready to peacefully enjoy Christmas (well, peaceful is a relative term with little kids in the house!)

I was decluttering my computer folders, and weeding out some card images, and found these two that I never shared!! Family members will be getting both of these cards under the Christmas tree this year, so I figure it's a fine time to go ahead and share them! They both feature stamps from Unity Stamp Co. Yesterday Unity announced that they will be retiring all their kits of the month, from 2008 . . .. better go grab one quick if you've been thinking about it! You can find the "Soon to be retiring" list HERE!

Yesterday I made a batch of chocolate biscotti, also for Christmas gifts. And it turned out pretty good - I will be making more today!!! I was afraid to make too much, the first time, in case it didn't turn out. But it DID turn out - and half of it is gone, because we keep munching on it! So I better make a LOT today!!! The biscotti recipe came from here, at eatingoutloud.com, where I also got a FABULOUS fruit cobbler recipe. I make it ALL THE TIME. (Here's the cobbler recipe)

I also helped my sweet friend, and mama-to-be-anyday, Sara, make Oreo truffles the other day - oh my GOODNESS. She got mint Oreos for them, and they were SO YUMMY. It's a darn good thing she didn't leave the whole tray here - because they would now be GONE. ;) Dangerous things, those little truffles!!! There are a lot of recipes out there for them . . .find which one you like the best!

Have a terrific day!
THREE MORE SLEEPS TILL CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

I just gotta say. . .

I have to tell you, I feel so much less stressed about this silly blog, now that I've made the decision to blog once a week or so. If you're feeling stressed about YOUR blog - I highly recommend the once-a-week blogging. If you horribly miss me, and wish I were blogging every other day or so, (which I highly doubt, unless you are my Aunt Nancy) then speak up - otherwise, forever hold your peace!

So let's see what I have to share today. First I'd like to share a link . . . I LOVE these cute bows that are on the Jillibean Soup blog. I tried making some last night - I think I made too many loops, and I had a hard time attaching the whole thing together - but they are so adorable. I was thinking they could make cute tree ornaments too!

Okay, onto the cards. The first one I created for my mom's Close To My Heart blog. You can find all the details HERE. (I am way too lazy to retype it all up! Ha!)

The second card is using some new and old stamps from The {Stamps} of Life (mainly to showcase the new set, Minis4Circles) , plus the December kit from Discount Cardstock.
I stamped all those circles on the background, and stamped the tag - love that little tag, and love my circle punch! What did we do before circle punches!? ACK!
This morning my little man and I made some candy trees, out of sugar cones. (I felt a little silly buying ice cream cones in 50 degree weather) and lots of candy treats! The goodies were leftover from his gingerbread decorating party at school. (One of the Room Mom perks - bringing home the leftovers!)

Tonight we'll be putting on our pj's, and going for a drive across town to the yearly Luminaria - more Christmas lights and luminaries than you can possibly count!!!! I'm thinking we'll pack some cocoa and cookies in the car with us!!!!

Enjoy this last weekend before Christmas!!!!! I actually got the packages out that needed to go in the mail (well, dear hubby did - after a 40 minute wait in line - YIKES!) I hope you have a GREAT week!!!
XOXO

spinning, spinning!

the days spin by so quickly, i can hardly catch my breath! we are officially (finally) done celebrating bryce's birthday! PHEW! the superhero party was a success, and i am working on a big blog post with links to all the great stuff i found, in case you want to have one too!

now that the party is over, i can focus on christmas, and on the holiday party at school this thursday. i am so proud to say that this year's calendars are printed, in my hands, and the ones being mailed will be ready to go by tomorrow morning. (even if its the last thing i do!) I create digi 6x6 photo calendars each year. the first year everyone got a 6x6 spiral bound album, which stands up, to display them. so now, each year everyone just gets the calendar to refill! I'll try to remember to take a pic for you!

but now onward to the crafty stuff. The {Stamps} of Life december releases . . . .I have three sets to show you - labels2use (my favorite - i've used it tons already!), invite2create, and minis4circles (adorable tiny sentiments!)

"Thanks" using some "old" but wonderful october afternoon papers, Kraft cardstock from DCS and the labels2use set.

You're Invited, featuring My Mind's Eye paper, invite2create, plus the hat from birthday4cookie
Be Mine, featuring more My Mind's Eye, and the minis4circles set!

Okay, the little one is fussing, and its time to wake up the big one, so we can all start SPINNING AGAIN!!!!!! It's a good kind of busy - don't get me wrong! We are having fun . . . but I could use a long winter's nap!!!

Love you all bunches, thanks for stopping by!!!!! Leave me a comment, and let me know what YOU are staying busy with!!!
XOXO

Merry Christmas!!!!

Remember my earlier post? The one where I said I was NOT doing Christmas cards? tee hee hee . . . .Merry Christmas! I created this cute card on Shutterfly in a whopping ten minutes or less. You can too! And if you post it on your blog, you can earn a $25 gift certificate! Seriously! How much does that rock!?

Color Me Merry Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

happiness. . .and chaos!

Hello hello!!! How cute are these trees? They are a rub-on, from BoBunny, which is featured in the Discount Cardstock Posh Paper kit for December! The sentiment and snowflakes are also rub-ons. This card is based on Tami's CPS sketch #196.

Every year, I think about sending out Christmas cards. I don't think we've done it since before Mr. B was born SIX years ago! And then I consider sending out New Years cards. . .and then Valentines. (Which I did manage to accomplish two years ago!) I feel badly, because I LOVE getting Christmas cards in the mail. I love seeing everyone's pictures, and catching up on their year. But I am always scrambling to get it done, and this year especially, we just can't afford the added expense. Despite that, I AM going to try and use up all my misc holiday cards that I make throughout the year. But instead of mailing cards, I am going to use an actual handmade Christmas card attached to people's gifts instead of a tag. It's ridiculous to have a giant stack of cards hanging around that never get used. (Declutter, declutter, declutter!)

And who knows, since this year I'm not even ATTEMPTING to send out cards. . .watch, this will be the year that I actually feel like I have time and motivation to do it. (Well, maybe not!)

I am now off to make superhero capes for Bryce's birthday party this weekend. It truly is THE holiday season around this house! Birthdays, and Christmas - OH MY!

XOXO

Ooh la la! December Posh Paper kit!

Ooooh. . .the color combo in the December Posh Paper kit at Discount Cardstock, is AMAZING. This kit will help you whip up winter cards, in a SNAP. i made some CUTE thank you cards, perfect for christmas thank-you's. the rub-ons, from Bo Bunny are adorable, and very easy to use. (There's nothing worse than rub-ons that don't rub on!) And the jewels. . .ohhh, the jewels. Gorgeous matching shades of blue and green - a whole pack of them! So you can bling it up to your hearts content!

Here's the first card I have to share with you, using all items from the kit! You can see all the kit contents, and order a kit for yourself here, at Discount Cardstock!

We are off to SeaWorld for the weekend, to celebrate Mr. B's 6th birthday. So fun! Have a GREAT weekend!
XOXO