The Days in Between...

Well it's over, but it was GREAT!

Hope it was for you as well!

I'm continuing my hiatus, but wanted to wish all of my blog readers and friends, a HAPPY and SAFE NEW YEAR, as we trade in one decade for another!

See you next week!

(teenymanolo.com, charlottehappening.com)

Be JOLLY By GOLLY!

I'm participating in JEN and MELISSA 's holiday blogfest today! I HEART those girls!

So here goes:

My favorite Christmas decorations are the reindeer that sit on my mantle,

And, the snowman bought years ago at a craft show. He's made from a kitchen rag, with real branches for arms, and a teeny bird on his head.

My favorite holiday recipe is probably my Easy Cheesecake .

And my favorite holiday drink is simply, Warninks Eggnog (from the bottle):


So there you have it!

***********

I'm going dark for the holiday to recharge my batteries (I've shut off my comments as well).


So I leave you with good wishes and happy thoughts this holiday season.


My brother-in-law owns a coffee business (so you know I LOVE his gifts), and I got a kick out of their holiday card this season:


See you on the flip side!

The Spirit of Christmas?

Last week, while reading the book, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, I realized something.

It's kind of hard to explain Christmas spirit to a six-year-old.


We got to the part near the end, when the towns people gathered round, and held hands singing.

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. "


"And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?"


And a moment of realization crossed my son's face. The synopses were firing off in his brain. He stared and stared at the page, and then opened his mouth to share his words of wisdom.


"Mom, those whoville people OBVIOUSLY don't know yet, that their trees and presents are gone!"


*face palm*

:D

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

Snowed In

There's something enchanting about the first winter storm.
The snow treats the streets and trees as canvas, and paints in swirls and drifts of fluffy white.
Strong coffee, warm muffins, flannel PJ's, and silence. Oh, and solitary writing time.


Ah, the joys of working from home.


*contented sigh*


WAIT A MINUTE. What's this you say?

The schools are all closed too?

Did I just say quiet--and alone? NOT.
Oh well- it was a darn good dream ;-)

(torontoist.com, zastavki.com)

Three BAH HUMBUGS

I said it around this time last year, and I'll say it again:

Despite trying to feel festive and charitable, some things just drag me down. And I become completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of things left to do on my list.


The top three things that I've come to despise this time of year:

1. The crowds and looong lines everywhere I turn. And there's no way around it, but if I could, I would avoid the mere mention of the word "mall" at all costs. Instead, I prefer to shop on-line, and at independent boutiques when I can.


2. The scrooges in disguise. I may be a scrooge about my long list, but that doesn't mean I treat others rudely. I absolutely HATE witnessing when a person, who just happens to be buying tons of gifts for their loved ones, berates the clerk at the cash register or give others in line dirty looks. Rude people SUCK, period. And they look worse around the holidays.

3. Writing out Christmas cards. I'm sorry family and friends. I love receiving them and I feel good when I finally send them (especially to people I haven't talked to in awhile), but the anxiety leading up to them sucks. As of today I still haven't done them. YIKES!! On my list though!


What are you a Scrooge about this time of year?


(photo credit: cache.gawker.com, getty images, viatrading, images.meredith.com)

Cranberry Jell-O Salad

I made this for Thanksgiving dinner, and plan to make it again for Christmas.

It's refreshing and tangy, and pairs well with turkey, ham or beef.

Oh, and it's easy peasy.

The ingredients you need are:

2 packages of raspberry Jello-O

1 large can of crushed pineapple, juice reserved

2 cans of whole cranberry sauce

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped celery (optional)

one chopped apple


*In a medium saucepan heat the juice from the pineapple (if the liquid doesn't equal to 1 cup, add water to make up the difference). Add the two Jell-O powder mixes. Heat on low until the powder dissolves in the liquid.


*In the meantime, chop your walnuts, celery and apples (see the handy dandy chopper I forgot I had?).

*In a large bowl, mix the whole cranberry sauce with the crushed pineapple.

*Add in the chopped celery, walnuts and apples.

*Pour in the the Jello-O mixture (after it's cooled for 20- 30 minutes).

*Let it set in the fridge overnight (or 6-8 hours).

DONE!

Here's what it looks like after it's set.

If using as a dessert, serve with cool whip.

:D :D :D

Stamping My Little Heart Out

December 1st Already?

Eek--NO, STOP!

Time should not be allowed to move this fast.

I'm taking this time to remind my Tags-n-Stones customers that December 10th is the last day to place your order for Christmas delivery!

In the meantime, check out my newest key designs I've been tinkering with (not on my jewlery site yet):

I stamped a teeny E on there (can you see it?), and chose not to darken it.

AND, I'm still playing around with these teeny tiny keys and heart locks:

Oh, and check out my new bird stamp:

Isn't she cute? TWEET! Stamping away...

P.S. Buy Talli Roland's debut novel THE HATING GAME on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk KINDLE today. She's campaigning for the top spot! GO TALLI--hope you make it!

Go here to find out more:

Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/hNBkJk
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/hX2ieD

Five Reasons Why I Love the Holiday Season

1. (Practically) guilt-free shopping.

If you're shopping for others and are in the act of giving--and just happen to throw in a little something-something for yourself--then there's no guilt. :D

2. The lights and decorations.

Maybe it's because everything looks magical for one month of the year.

If it were year-round it would lose its effect. I love sitting in my house with all the light off, except for the tree and mantle. It's so peaceful and pretty.

3. The feelings the holiday evokes...

...leading up to the main event. Anticipation, good-will, and visions of sugar-plums dancing in our heads.

4. Creating an imaginary world for my son...

... of Santa and the North Pole, and, no matter your beliefs, a message of spirituality in there.

5. The festivities.

Parties, dinners, get-togethers. Wearing all things shiny and sparkly. :-)

Whew! What a whirl-wind start to all of the holiday madness!

Hope everyone is doing well?

(photo credit: owba.net, blogs.eastwick.com, about.com, Baltimore Sun, fanpop.com, idressonline.com)