Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Day…

Well, thanks to steroids, morphine and all of your prayers, my Dad has been released from the hospital to have Christmas with his family.  He can only have liquids right now and has to have surgery in the next few days, but we are so happy.  We, by unanimous decision, have decided to hold off on opening presents until my parents can arrive.  We did have the children open the presents that Santa left when we all got up this morning though. 

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes and prayers.  It has meant so much to me. I hope that everyone has a joy filled day, I know we will!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

On the 23rd Day of Advent…

…I am asking for your prayers, well wishes, positive energy, good thoughts for my Dad.  He has been in the hospital with complications due to Crohn’s Disease since the 21st and we could use all the help we can get.

Thank you.

Monday, December 21, 2009

On the 21st Day of Advent…

To celebrate the first day of winter I thought I would share this funny picture:

It has been floating around the internet lately and I thought it was pretty cute. I would love to credit whoever took it, I just haven’t been able to find that information. Still, too cute not to share!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

On the 19th Day of Advent…

An Irish giveaway contest for you!  I have been a fan of Micki from Irish Muses for quite a while now.  It is time for her annual Christmas giveaway!  Drop by and leave her a note!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

On the 16th Day of Advent…

Boy Genius had his Christmas concert tonight.  Unfortunately my sound quality wasn’t the best tonight, the Symphony band was incredibly awesome!  They really sound more like a college symphony band than a high school one.

For your viewing and listening pleasure…Baby It’s Cold Outside.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

On the 15th Day of Advent…

A movie to look forward to.

They will be releasing “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” on December 25th in limited areas here in the US.  I’m really hoping that it will come to a theater near me… after all, it has Johnny Depp in it and who could ask for a better Christmas present!

Monday, December 14, 2009

On the 14th Day of Advent

Have you ever seen the comedy of Jeff Dunham?  He’s politically incorrect, makes sexual innuendo's, and is an equal opportunity offender.  He’s hysterical!  Here’s an excerpt from his Christmas special.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

On the 12th Day of Advent…

Here’s an idea for you.  To help the environment, why not make some bags that you can use at the grocery store.  Even better, why not make some and give them away to other people so they can use them too!  I plan on doing this just as soon as I finish my Christmas projects.  Won’t you join me?

clickable

On the 11th Day of Advent…

Apparently, I slept through yesterday, so lucky you, you’ll get two posts today!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

On the 10th Day of Advent…

First a picture of my Daughter in her re-vamped t-shirt. It’s hard to tell, but her t-shirt says I ♥ Santa. She really wanted to have her picture taken with the dogs and I just can’t resist her sweet smile! The top was too short on her so I added a ruffle from holiday fabric at the bottom and at the cuffs. Doesn’t she look sweet? 1

I finally finished my table topper! It doesn’t show very well in my picture, but I am very pleased as I think it turned out gorgeous! Seriously it’s the prettiest thing I have ever made! 2 4 You can see some of the colors marginally better in this shot. I really wish that the vibrancy of the burgundies and greens and golds would translate better, they really are outstanding.3

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

On the 9th Day of Advent…

Pictures of my mantle!  I was so excited this year when I found a box of Christmas decorations I had misplaced last year.  I love the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer characters and that is the box of decorations that was missing.  (Don’t get me started about the story, though, it drives me crazy with it’s prejudice and intolerance.) So, without further ado…

12-9-2009 015 12-9-2009 037

12-9-2009 038 12-9-2009 039 12-9-2009 040 12-9-2009 041 12-9-2009 042 Remember my star/snowflake from yesterday?  Well it turned out really cute!

12-9-2009 016 You should try one!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

On the 8th Day of Advent…

Snowflakes!  Snowflakes are so lovely.  It’s amazing how each one is different, like our fingerprints.  Here are some absolutely gorgeous pictures of some:

So…I wanted to make a snowflake.  I didn’t want to do the usual cut out ones though.  So I looked around online and found a tutorial to this:

Paper Craft for Christmas - Gold Finnish Star(clickable)

I’ll let you know how it turns out!

Monday, December 7, 2009

On the 7th Day of Advent…

I went fabric shopping!

12From left to right:  I had to get more gold flecked cream to finish my fancy table topper; found the candy/modern snowflake for my kitchen table topper; and this darling music material to make into a pillowcase from this tutorial for Boy Genius.  He’s so into music with jazz, marching and symphony band, as well as his drumming, I thought this would be perfect and I know he’ll love it!

So what are you making for Christmas?

Sunday, December 6, 2009

On The 6th Day of Advent…

Advent Countdown

Have you been to the Gum Tree Designer’s site yet?  Check it out!  Loads of free stitching projects and a link or idea every day of Advent! Just click the picture above to go there!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

On The Fifth Day of Advent...

some music...Straight No Chaser. Love these guys!

Friday, December 4, 2009

On the 4th Day of Advent…a review…

In case you haven’t noticed, I am trying to write something every day until Christmas.  This may be a stretch for me.  Those of you who frequent my blog know that I go for days, sometimes a week or more without making a post.  This is the challenge I set for myself.

So, on to my book review.

I recently finished reading “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger. 

 

Let me start by saying that if you like your endings to be wrapped up in a box with a pretty bow, this is not the book for you. 

Rather appropriately, this was my “car” book.  The book I read while waiting for my children at their various activities.  As such, it made the reading somewhat disjointed.  This book was perfect for that.  By it’s very nature, it is disjointed.  You get snippets of time, mostly present and past where the two main characters lives converge. 

The main male character, Henry DeTamble, first meets the main female character, Clare Abshire , when he is 36 and she is just 6.  Henry is actually only 8 years older than Clare in “real” time. What ensues is a somewhat chaotic relationship, but Niffenegger manages to coalesce all the experiences into a cohesive, interesting story.

I found the story to be well written, prosaic at times.  For someone in their 40’s there are some wonderful references to the bands that were popular in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s that will bring back memories.

This is a messy, thought provoking, fascinating story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  It is like real life, though, there is joy and sadness, passion and grief. Don’t expect a rainbow at the end!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

My Favorite Cookie on the 3rd Day of Advent…

I thought today I would share with you my FAVORITE cookie!  I use the recipe on the back of these Nestle morsels:

swirledccs

Although I don’t think Nestle is making this chip any more (I have some left from stocking up last year) they are exactly the same as their premium white chips.  The only difference is the coloring.

Swirled Holiday Snowball Cookies

1 1/2 c butter, softened

3/4 c powdered sugar

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. salt

3 c flour

1 2/3 c (1 package) Nestle swirled premium white chips

1/2 c finely chopped nuts

powdered sugar

mix butter, sugar, vanilla and salt in mixer until creamy.  Gradually beat in flour.  Stir in morsels and nuts.  Shape level tablespoons of dough into 1 1/4 inch balls.  Bake at 375 degrees on ungreased cookie sheets 10 – 12 minutes until set and lightly browned.  Sprinkle powdered sugar on hot cookies, cool on cookie sheet for about 10 minutes.

Just a tip, don’t let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet or they will stick.  Put them on a cooling rack.  You can add more powdered sugar (I always do) after they have cooled a bit.  These are absolutely wonderful cookies…give them a try!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

On The Second Day Of Advent…

I thought I’d share some crafty things to make for Christmas presents. Some I have made, some not. Just click on the pictures to go to the sites!

Over at Roots & Wings Co. they have a recipe to make your own vanilla extract.

finished bottles

Happy Zombie gives a tutorial on how to make these fabric gift bags.

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Sew 4 Home tells us how to make Citrus Holiday: Bits & Pieces Felt Ornaments. I think this would be fun to do with the medium sized kidlets!

0295-20090808-Canon-EOS-DIGITAL-REBEL-XSi-IMG_0860-1_b

At Home With The Farmer’s Wife gives a great tutorial on using up hotel, or leftover, soaps and remaking them into a new bar nice enough for gift giving!

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Jump on over to Pink Penguin to make the cutest fabric basket. I made this last year and it turned out wonderful! Easy to make and it is a great gift…fill it with goodies!

Last, but certainly not least, for today are some recycled cd coasters from Scrapdash. I made these last year as well using the same Christmas fabric as the basket above and gave them, along with the basket, as a gift to my Mom. She said the only problem with them is that she wants more!!

CD Coasters 1

Have a great evening!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

And The Countdown Begins…

Can you believe it is December 1st already!  Where has the year gone?  It has literally flown by on gossamer wings.  So much has stayed the same for us, yet so much has changed. 

My #1 Son went away to start his junior year in college (though he’s home every weekend to do laundry!)– unbelievable that I have a child that old…I am certainly not old enough!

My #2 Son graduated from high school and started college. A new journey for him, though it is a somewhat familiar path as he is living at home and commuting.

My #3 Son started his sophomore year in high school, joined jazz band playing his saxophone and started drumming lessons – something that from all accounts he is quite talented with.

My baby, my little girl, managed to find a way over the summer break to grow up just a little too much for my tastes!  She is now very fashion conscious and a little diva in her own right.  Still as sweet as can be, but not quite the “little girl” she was a year ago.

We added a puppy to our gaggle of people and animals living here.  He’s half Shiz-Tzu and half Dashund. He’s so ugly he’s cute!  I love him, he’s such a little cuddle bug!

xmas duh-budWe got our tree all decorated this past Sunday night.  It went fairly smoothly…as smoothly as can be expected with six people working on it! You can see in the picture that Hubby took, it gets a bit congested around the tree!

12-1-2009 010I put the tree in a different spot this year, I have been hungry for change.  It didn’t happen without a little grumbling from the kidlets, they don’t like it when I change things.  But I am pleased with how it turned out…a little the same…a little different.

Now comes the frenzy of figuring out all the Christmas presents.  Who gets what?  Do I have time to make the things I planned for myself as well as other?  Is it possible to make zero calorie Christmas cookies?  (the last one is really the most important one of all!!!)

From my family to yours Happy December…Happy First Day of Advent!

family christmas 2009