Brrr... It's Cold Outside! (January Calendar Page)

I just love calendars. So... of course I signed up for a calendar-page swap! And... I picked October! (One of my fave months, because... well, it birthed me, of course!) But yeah, you know... Halloween is one of my fave holidays and I just love the colors of fall, so I had to do it. But yeah... I forgot to take pics of my October calendar layout (but you'll see them when I get them back sometime this month). So... in the meantime, I got to "angel" a spot and ended up with January.

And so... I picked the SNOWMAN! The greatest "wintery" guy ever!

Beginning with boring old plain white cardstock, I Glimmer-Misted the frosty background in Twilight. (I personally like the bigger drops, making it like bluish snow, but if you want a finer spray, step back a little bit and let it drift through the air...)

Then I had some great paper from My Mind's Eye (the super cool sky blue [snowman], the turqoise [January} and the wannabe turquoise/white stripe [torn strip at bottom]).

GLUE DOTS Rock!

I cut cutie-guy snowmen from Joys of the Season, hiding their facial features, but keeping the button-holes.  Then, I Peachy-Keen stamped their faces (my first set) and Stickled their twiggy arms in Cinnamon and their little mouths in Cany Cane. Then I popped teeny brads through the button holes and Glue-Dotted him to the page. (If you've never used Glue Dots, be sure to try them! AND "like" them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. You'll be glad you did! They have SO many contests and give-aways, not to mention the tips and support. I just LOVE them!)

Obviously, I tore the strip at the bottom. Uh... need I say more? Then I ATG-ed it to the page. I left room at the bottom for binding purposes.

I cut out the January, using my Cricut... almost any font will do. I adhered it using a Zig pen. Since I was doing 12 pages, I could have used my Xyron, but didn't want glue boogers all over.

*Sigh*

And now we enter the most difficult part... THE FRAME. Ugh! The frame is concocted of a bunch of different snowflakes from various cartridges welded together to fit about a 4.5x3" picture. I sigh, because this took the absolute LONGEST portion. I had to go to bed while the machine cut... for each set of 4 frames, the physical cutting (on the Cricut) took ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES. Can you believe that? And then... they were a total pain to take off... extremely delicate and breaking. My initial intent was to have a sturdy slip-the-picture-in frame... uh... NO. Didn't work, and so... I adhered blue coordinating cardstock to the precious glittered snowflakes (paper was from my stash...) to support the wobbly frame. This I adhered on three sides (minus the top) and VOILA! I got my slip-the-picture-in-type of frame. Woohoo!

To finish it up, Joann's had some really cute buttons of snowflakes and snowmen, and I just had to have them when I saw them, and so... they ended up on my page! (hee, hee! At least I didn't hoard them, like I am known to do!)

Now I just have to print me out some actual calendar pages for next year (I'll put in KNOWN birthdays and events first, of course). And they'll be ready for gifting, when I get all the pages back.

I'm super excited and can't wait! What is your project for gifts?

The Holidays Are HERE! Are you ready?

According to my date keeper (see the readiness thingy at the bottom of the site), it is less than 21 days until the Big Day.  BUT, if you are of a different faith/belief, your holiday time may already be here. What did you do/make? What are you going to do?  I would love to know!

I'm trying to finish up what I need to do. Like last year, most of the gifts are handmade. Some people may not appreciate it, but I am doing what I can afford. PLUS, it comes from me, not bought by me. I try to be creative and not super duper simple and uncaring. I don't take the "easy" way out. I put time and effort into each and every thing/item I make.

And if, by chance, you are receiving a gift from me... if you don't like it or don't want it... PLEASE don't tell me. Just accept it. This is the one time in the year I don't want the truth. The truth IS NOT what I want to hear.

This season, no matter your faith or beliefs, is about giving. "... And I give to you a part of me, because you are my friend. It's a mirror of the heart of me. Look inside; see my soul; share my song and it will never end..." (one of my favorite songs from way back in the day - 6th grade glee club... don't judge me!) I can't find the song any where, so if you know it... help me out with the origin, PLEASE!

It's Beginning to Look A LOT Like...

Christmas? Hanukkah? Kwanzaa? or another holiday?

I just love all of the lights and things about the holiday season. So... as I took a ride through the backstreets of Redlands last night, I drove slowly, winding my way towards the Canyon (San Timiteo). Redlands is one of the most beautiful cities/towns ever. During the winter holiday season, they bump it up a notch (or two).

I love to see the older Victorian homes and other styles, too. But, the community is just the grandest without being so overly done and commercial... it gives off a real down-home family-type spirit. I love it!

They even have a community Christmas Parade!

So, since I couldn't find any pictures and didn't take the time to take pictures (I just oohed and aaahed...), hope you enjoyed the video... And think about what you love about the holiday season.

My love? The spirit of everyone being "nice", even when they're usually not... Enjoy!

Whatcha Want for Christmas?

There are SO many material things that I'd like, of course... BUT! The greatest thing we could've had was a new addition to our family. And so, without further ado, let me introduce you to our greatest gift ever! A puppy! Welcome Xanny!!!! (pronounced Zan-nee)

Xanny, a little long-haired, but we love her

This first picture is a couple days after we got her... We'd already given her a bath, but you couldn't tell... (hee, hee!)

We named her Xanadu (like the ancient "heavenly" city), but call her Xanny for short. She responds well to that.

She is a poodle mix, probably Maltese and Poodle (Maltipoo), but we're not for sure. Anyhow, we're all really excited. We've wanted a dog for ages, but hubs was NOT giving in.  I had researched dogs, and told him IF we were getting one, I had 3 conditions:

1) Had to be a POODLE mix. You see, with 4 girls in the house, and all having long hair... we have A LOT of hair in the house to begin with. People shed, too. And I didn't want HAIR everywhere (I have serious issues with it!). So... poodles have a more hair-like coat than "fur" and shed the least (some people don't think they shed at all... but everything in nature does).

2) Had to be FEMALE!!! I cannot stress this enough. I have massive issues with the "little pink rocket" that comes out of a male dog's you-know-what (the rated "G" version) when he gets excited. AND when little male puppies get excited, they wee-wee-wee all over the place. (Apparently, I'm not the ONLY one with this issue, as some companies actually make diapers for little male puppies... SAW IT in a pet store! HA!)

and 3) IF we got a dog/puppy/whatever, it couldn't be just Marissa's pet; it had to be a family pet. I meant, hey! That's fair, right? I didn't want ANYONE to feel left out here. Plus, it puts responsibility on everyone, not just Marissa (at 5 years old, that would actually be ME!).

And so... one morning after work, he went and picked up this most lovable dog in the world. (She is 6 months old).

After her professional bath...

She desperately needed a bath, so... being a poodle mix... ya know... we had to get her groomed ('cause they're the grooming kind of dog, ya know!). She got a bath, teeth cleaning, renal glands expressed (whatever that means... ew!), hair cut, ear trimming, and nail grinding/filing. Here's the brief pictorial:

Getting a hair cut (or them all cut)

A little ear-trimming

And the Finished Pooch (with Natalie-the Handler)

Here she is! The beautiful wonderful dog that we have! She is fairly new to us (got her a week and a half before Thanksgiving), but SO a part of our family.

She is smart, too. She knows where home is, she rarely barks, she is trying REALLY hard to potty-train, and she listens. She shows unconditional love and does what I tell her! (She is the BEST kid I have!)

Seriously... I love all my kids. And we all love each other. Xanny fits into our family like nobody else ever could. Shortly after we got her, she got really sick. We thought we were going to lose her, but... with a lot of love, nurturing and totally round-the-clock care,  she did well, and became the springy happy little puppy we've come to know and love. She is attached to us, as we are to her. We wouldn't give her up for anything.

And if... we all got nothing else for Christmas... that would be fine. This gift is gonna last a lifetime. So... Watcha Want for Christmas? We've got all we ever wanted right here.

Yudu, You Do? I Can Do! I Wanna Du!

Oh my gosh! I am so absolutely excited.

First of all... I'm all about F-U-N. Now, when you add creativity and do-it-yourself kind of stuff to it, I'm even more there. And so... I have been wanting this awesome machine by Provocraft for a llllooonnnnnggg... time. It is called a Yudu (you do).  It is a personal silk-screener. And I've wanted it for SO long, that when I designed "our" craft room, I designed a spot for one to sit in... a nice little nook, reserved solely for this baby.

Yes, the silk-screener allows you (or me!) to make your (mine) own shirts, but So. Much. More. It'll allow the operator to do fun creative things like invitations, stationary, pillow cases, cards, onesies (think BABY SHOWERS!), capes, shorts, sweats... You get the picture.

Anyway, a LONG time ago, I saw the awesome Mark Montano on an infomercial about it. I'd love to share that with you... but bummer. I couldn't find it anywhere.  And so... I found this other super awesome introduction to the Yudu from the Impatient Crafter (she rocks, too!)

Now do you see why I'm so SUPER excited? No? Well... hmmm... OH! I forgot to tell you! I am getting one! YAY! A super duper great friend of mine is getting me one! Yep. Picked it up today at Michael's. My friend ROCKS! (Thank you, Mikie!!! The girls and I are SO excited!!!)

While he goes to Turkey (not the gobble, gobble one... silly! the COUNTRY one!) on a tour, I will be watching his beloved dog and home. And so... since Cricut carts weren't THAT much on sale this year (because he usually swaps me cartridges for dogsitting...), and Michael's had a pretty great sale, and he just knew I really truly honest-to-goodness wanted one (and seriously couldn't afford to buy myself one) and it's a little pricey to ask for as a gift... he offered me the exchange - 3 months of home/dog-sitting for a YUDU!

So now... I'll be able to CAN DO a YUDU, too! Woohoo!

The Puzzle of 11 Months and a Day

 Last Christmas, one of my bestest, bestest in the whole wide world bestest friends gave me a gift. Yes, we all receive gifts, but THIS one is the grandaddy of them all! It is/was a puzzle... a Vintage Coca-Cola puzzle. You see, I collect all things Coke (the Classic Style) and she (yes, YOU, Karen!) thought this would be the best gift in the universe.

Alrighty... puzzles are grand, but... THIS puzzle is 2,000 pieces. Yes, you saw that right. TWO THOUSAND PIECES!

And so... my wonderful helpful husband broke open the packaging late night on New Year's Eve of last year... December 31, 2009. We worked diligently until 3 a.m. The frame was set and a couple of patches of pieces were placed together. And that was that.

The puzzle sat on a banquet table in my family room from that day on. Sure, it got pieced together bit by bit, piece by piece. It was difficult and time consuming. Various friends and family members helped when they could. Many pieces were extremely odd-shaped. May pieces had so many shades in them, and the puzzle itself was made up of areas composed of reds and browns (cola, ya know!). My eyes would start to burn and I'd grow dizzy from working on it too long.

And yet... after months and months of slowly being put together, this puzzle started to take shape... until you see what it has become (above). Today was the day! I pieced together the last remaining pieces, as best I could. Until... this is all that was left undone:

The completed puzzle is approximately 34 inches by 42 1/2 inches. HUGE! See the missing piece? I do! But you know what? I'm still going to Modge Podge it all together, then create a frame and UP it will go onto my wall! After all that work, I am not going to let a missing piece get in my way. What about the missing piece? Heck! If anyone even notices it... it'll be a great conversation starter of my grandaddy puzzle story.

It was a marvelous experience and took 11 months and one day from start to finish. But next year? I think I'll get more scrapping and crafting done!

November was a "Challenging" Month

I've been a bad, bad blogger.

I haven't written in over a month. This, in and of itself, is B-A-D... BAD. Hopefully tomorrow will begin something new. I am challenging myself to post each and every day. (Please don't let me fail!) Whether it's a quickie Christmas/holiday/winter-y quip or a run-down of shopping or crafty to-do's... I hope to make it better in the month of December!

This month (and last month, too!) have just been a whirlwind of things. Too many things to go over. Basically, I/we've been busy with the kids, putting on different school-related things (remember Kindergarten?), dealing with everybody's drama on a day-to-day basis, birthdays, school projects/essays, living life, and when I can... being lazy.  But... this past month, I accepted a challenge that was really hard for me. I had to think of a different thing each and every day to be thankful for.  Yes... it was on Facebook, but heh... it's a great way to relate to people (and a wonderful outlet if you are an addict - Family Feud ROCKS!). So, here, just to sum it up, I'll give you the day-by-day summarization of my month:

The challenge (should you choose to accept it) is to post something you are thankful for each day until Thanksgiving. For some of us, this may be harder than for others. SOME of us complain. a. lot. But... in the spirit of being thankful to everyone and everything, I am ...willing to accept this challenge.

(And so it began with...)

Day 1 - I am thankful for healthy, happy kids. Kids, who no matter what trials they put me through, are still here and pretty much only provide me with mental anguish (on a daily basis). I love my girls!

Day 2 - I am thankful for the freedom to vote for my beliefs/non-beliefs and opinions and the freedom to choose whether to vote or not. Basically, no matter what, the decision is mine. So... I'm thankful to still be able to make that decision!

Day 3 - I am thankful that friends, who I once thought lost, can now be found.

Day 4 - I am thankful that although my kids may not be "happy" all of the time, I know I'm doing my best, and that in the end, they will be better for the decisions I have made.

Day 5 - I am thankful that every morning I wake up, I'm still alive. It's as simple as that today. What a wonderful day!

Day 6 - I am thankful that I can do (almost) everything I want, with the little time I have, and when I'm almost OUT of time, I can STILL take a power "nap" and have LOTS of energy. (even at this old age!). See you at the pool! Enjoy the beautiful day!

Day 7 - I am thankful I work with so many awesome people who can accept my mistakes and let me know they do the same thing; then we all laugh about it. (Thanks, guys!)

Day 8 - I am thankful that I live in a country where Justice is served (for the most part). Thank goodness that the wonderful judge saw the fitting need for a restraining order against a psychotic neighbor. Now maybe I'll be able to sleep better! (Court was today... and THIS is why the delay in my posting of thanks...)

Day 9 - I am thankful for fresh starts. Everyday is a new one. Getting up and starting fresh is always a good thing. Open your eyes, rise and shine. Take a brisk walk and let it clear (and soothe) your head, your heart, your body...

Day 10 - I am thankful that although my kids (or kid) may upset me and tempt me to blow my top, I have enough patience to deal with it calmly... (today is one of those days...)

Day 11 - I am thankful for people that can change. Something may be needed in one's life, and it is okay and acceptable for people you love to change to fulfill those needs. (Thank you to my wonderful husband for finally letting us have a dog. We love Xanadu!)

Day 12 - I am thankful that no matter how much our world and surroundings change, there are STILL 24 hours in the day... a constant that I can count on. And with this constant, it gives me just a couple more hours, in my busy day, so that NO MATTER what, I am still able to post this... and not be late into another day. Whew! (did ya catch all that?)

Day 13 - I am thankful for wonderful internet friends and family. With all of our technological advances, we are able to connect and "see" more people than ever. Whether we use them as a sounding board for things gone good or bad or even just to lend an ear, our more-extended and available friends and families make everything better and allow us to be part of a true "global perspective" with everyone working together. Thank you to all of you. And it truly is wonderful to meet up in "real" life sometime. (Thanks for yesterday, Jenn and girls, Barbara, Kim and Zach! We had a great time!)

Day 14 - I am thankful for the brilliance of the stars at night. They allow me to look up in awe and wonder that things of nature can be so beautiful and peaceful at the same time the world is at war, in one way or another. There is still a light up in the sky... a brilliance, shining down upon us.

Day 15 - I am thankful for a little friend that came into my life. She walks with me every morning, doesn't talk back, and is an awesome listener. Thank you for my itty bitty puppy! I love my Xanny!

Day 16 - I am thankful for the peace and quiet I have (momentarily) that allows me to think and feel serenity each morning. It's a time when I (you) can believe the world is calm, even if it is only for a moment.

Day 17 - I am thankful for a husband that "allows" me to "stay at home" (if you can truly call it that) and that his job has a decent enough income that I can supplement it just a little and we're ok, barely making it, but ok. This way, our kids are taken care of daily and get to and from school safely AND are able to participate in sports and enjoy life. Sometimes... I even enjoy doing it. (lol!)

Day 18 - I am thankful for all of my Family Feud peeps that keep my glued to the computer, helping to complete my Fast Money rounds and sending me Fast Money requests. Thank you to all of you! Keep 'em coming! (lol!)

Day 19 - I am thankful for my coffee in the mornings (my hubs usually brings it for me... he works nights, so it's still warm...). Without it, I don't think I could get a great start in my day. (and so you know... on weekends, I'm on my own for the coffee thing. It sucks!) Thanks, Juan!

Day 20 - I am thankful that my puppy is still alive. She was diagnosed with parvo last night. While we can't afford to do the hospital stay, we got up round-the-clock last night to give her medication and treatment. She is still hydrated and her gums appear to be back to a healthy color. Please post happy sick puppy stories for me. I'll be reading them and hoping she recovers from this, although I know... the chance is slim. Thank you to all of my wonderful friends that help me through this time. We love our puppy!

Day 21 - I am thankful for the support of all of my friends. They (you all!) shared encouraging thoughts and stories with me yesterday. They have given me hope and courage to look at my poor puppy with a new perspective and dream of the day (very soon) when she will be all better. Thank you everyone! And keep those happy thoughts coming!

Day 22 - I am thankful my kids don't have school this week, so we all get to "sleep in" (if that's what you call waking up by yourself AND early... YAY!) and not rush around in the morning. (and YES, our puppy is doing MUCH better!)

Day 23 - I am thankful that there were still turkeys to purchase when I went in "last minute" shopping earlier today... Gotta have time to get that sucker to thaw!

Day 24 - I am thankful that even if I go to bed tired, grumpy and full of blahs, I wake up to my wonderful facebook friends, who usually post fun, happy, positive and sometimes HILARIOUS comments to start my day off a little better.

Day 25 - Today, I am thankful for... a whole bunch of things. As this challenge comes to a close, first of all, I am thankful that so many of you jumped in to this challenge and shared it with me. There are so many things out there for us t...o all be thankful for. I am thankful for all of my friends and family, for being okay (even when I think it's "really bad"), and most of all, that I have SO many things to be thankful for... that each day, I was able to post a different one. I am so grateful and humbled. Life IS good. Happy Thanksgiving to all, even to my friends in Canada, Australia, Brazil, and every where else in the world. Enjoy the holiday season, no matter how you celebrate or not. We're all here and sharing the world together. And for that... I am truly thankful. Good night!

(And it ended on Thanksgiving night)

I was able to complete the challenge above, a little later some days than others, but still... it was completed. YAY! Now... here's hoping a great beginning (and ending) to my own challenge of December! Woohoo! See ya'll tomorrow!