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Monday, December 6, 2010

Welcome Christmas!



Whew.
How's everyone doing? Are you all still sane? Or are you saying "Fiddle-dee-dee" like my friend, Anita. In the midst of decorating, I decided to make myself a banner and join in a "Playdate." Cause, you know...there really is nothing else I could be doing.....
So, I decided to join the Gang at  The Play Date Cafe and try their red and white challenge.


Looks like fun, huh?
I decided to make a new Christmas banner:


I'm pretty happy with the results...


Isn't he the sweetest? I used Bo Bunny papers for the images.



The background paper and glitter letters are K & Co.



My art room of course, its an utter disaster. I'll just close the door. (fiddle-dee-dee.)



Plus, that way, Miss Party won't eat anything from what's on the floor.
Happy Monday!!!



Welcome Christmas!


Whew.
How's everyone doing? Are you all still sane? Or are you saying "Fiddle-dee-dee" like my friend, Anita. In the midst of decorating, I decided to make myself a banner and join in a "Playdate." Cause, you know...there really is nothing else I could be doing.....
So, I decided to join the Gang at  The Play Date Cafe and try their red and white challenge.


Looks like fun, huh?
I decided to make a new Christmas banner:


I'm pretty happy with the results...


Isn't he the sweetest? I used Bo Bunny papers for the images.



The background paper and glitter letters are K & Co.



My art room of course, its an utter disaster. I'll just close the door. (fiddle-dee-dee.)



Plus, that way, Miss Party won't eat anything from what's on the floor.
Happy Monday!!!



Saturday, December 4, 2010

The Beauty of Pie.

Thanks so much for all your get-well wishes! I am still hobbling around, adjusting my attitude. I think I will try and work on some Christmas items standing up!!

I know that Thanksgiving is a distant memory and we are hurtling toward Christmas at warp speed, I really wanted to share our pie-baking extravaganza with you.
All directions are courtesy of my friend, Susan
(see blog about her amazing gift to Brenna here.)

The day before Thanksgiving, the girls and I grandly brought out the flour, shortening and all mixing bowls required, and soon found ourselves in an Olympic event we were SO not prepared for.


Imagine this:
I'm helping Brenna read through each step as well as figure out measurements with our cool new cups and spoons that have big, bold colorful lettering on them.
Lauren is on the other side of the table, one step behind us and asking me, "What's next, Mom?"
To which I repeat what I have just read with Brenna while simultaneously helping Brenna begin the next step of the recipe.
Not good for one's brain.
Especially if your child(ren) cooks like you do-kinda by the seat of your pants.

this mess on the rolling pin? It makes me laugh every time I see it!

Um, and with great panache. (Code word for big mess, but lots of fun.)
The best part of the experience was when I realized Lauren forgot 2 TBS. of shortening that needed to be cut into the flour. We both looked at each other and shrugged, as she was beyond the point of no return. She continued to spread shortening over the dough and folded it into fourths. We figured she had spread enough "extra" shortening to cover the missing 2TBS. 


I cannot begin to tell you how seeing Susan's directions in her photos and our reality on the table made the three of us realize what novices we are at pie-baking. Who KNEW it was so much work??? Susan's beautiful pie crust was smooth as satin.


Ours? Not so much.
As in we couldn't get it up off the table when it was time to put it in the pie dish. As in we had to start over in rolling out the pie crust before it went into the pie dish. As in we didn't care how it looked once we got it off of the table and figured we could put it together with great "panache" into said pie dish.


I know. Can you believe this???!!
It's all good in the end, though...


Right. Until you get to the filling.



oops.




The pecan pie was a bit easier.

While I seriously doubt we would win any ribbons for our pies, it was truly amazing for us to go from this:


to this:



AND, they were delicious!!!!

Thanks again for everything, Susan. We sure have some great memories!


Thursday, December 2, 2010

Where To Begin??


Hello, dear friends!
Where, oh where to begin today?
This holiday season, I have been given the gift of TIME by one of our dear friends that is home from studying abroad. She is doing the mid-day pick up of Miss Brenna and transporting her to each school for me. Which means I have un-interrupted time between 8 and 3. What a gift!!! I can get the house ready for Christmas, get shopping done, actually mail things on time, create some artwork, maybe even post some things on Etsy....
Or, I could be laid up with Sciatica this week.

It seems my body did not like working on some adorable bags (from this tutorial) at the kitchen table for several hours. In great protest, my Sciatica reared it's ugly head and I find myself with a lot of time for contemplation at 2 a.m. when I can't get comfortable and am up the rest of the night. There is also time for contemplation during the day while my heating pad and I become best of friends.





The kicker? My dog, Miss Party herself, protested at not being walked or having much attention paid to her by finding one of those bags I made and SHREDDED IT TO PIECES.





The funny part is that I really, truly wanted to move slowly this holiday season. To take TIME in preparing. To take TIME to think what a gift we have been given in the form of a baby- the Light of the World, come to us in such a human way. To think of and hopefully do something for  those that I know and love that are suffering right now, as it is so much more profound during this season.


As each day unfolds this month,


I am wishing you PEACE


in each situation you find yourself in.


Even if the dog does shred your artwork.

I've linked this to Vanessa's -
stop by Southern In My Heart for Inspiration Friday

Much love,

Sunday, November 28, 2010

A Quick Note


Just a quick note while packing up my eldest, then supposedly getting the Christmas decorations out...
I had to share with you all a conversation between Lauren and Brenna that occurred this past week:

Brenna says, "La-la, do you believe in Santa?"
Lauren: "Why yes, Brenna, I do."


"Good. Cause, do you know what, La-la?"
"No Brenna, what?"


"Because our country......"
"Yes?"
"Because our country believes in Santa Claus."

all images courtesy of Graphics Fairy.


Don't you all just think that would solve a lot of things???
More next week....

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving


We are actually having some weather here in Southern California! I'm loving the feel of fall and the holidays. BOTH of my girls are home, my sweet husband has the week off and I am beyond grateful.
Plus, I don't have to cook the turkey this year. 
(yay)


Do you remember your first Thanksgiving Turkey you cooked?
Ours was a doozy. 
It was a collaberative effort with another couple we had become friends with while Doug was in medical school. We were miles and miles away from home (Oklahoma) and anything that we recognized as a Thanksgiving dinner, but we were sure we could pull it off.
We first realized we were in trouble when my friend forgot to thaw the turkey.
Guess that's important. 
I just have a vivid memory of a 10 lb. turkey going in circles in the microwave in hopes that we could thaw it enough to stuff it and put it in the oven.
Which we did, because I remember making gravy.


Can you say Alpo?
Seriously. It looked just like a can of Alpo had been opened and dumped into the pan.
I don't recall much else of the meal....I'm pretty sure we did not eat the gravy, but I'm guessing we found an alternative. 
I'm happy to say 25 years later I can cook a pretty mean turkey and my gravy rocks!!
Brenna and I will attempt to make the famous pumpkin pie from the recipe provided by my friend, Susan. I hope it turns out half as wonderful as hers!! Otherwise, well....Marie Callendars does a pretty good pie.



I'm so Thankful to have each one of you as blog friends.  Let's continue to hold each other up and encourage each other any way we can!

Much love,

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sneak Peak


My "friends" and I have been working a little here and there.


Can you believe it? They made it out of the "to do" basket.
They have been especially patient while I try different outfits on them.


They endure with great disdain as I laugh out loud at their silliness.


I must admit, I have enjoyed myself very much.

Even if they don't think it's too funny.


My "friends" and I all agree on one thing. 



If we can bring some joy and laughter to others, it's worth the costume changes and glue on the paws.