Happy New Year!!! (well almost!)

WOW it seems like forever since I blogged. I have some photos and stuff to put up but probably not today. I just wanted to say HAPPY NEW YEAR! I will not be around at midnight because I will be at church... so I wanted to say it now.... overall, this year has been a great one...
I am blessed with a home, family, and church that I love! I also have a wonderful group of friends here on the web and then there is Joni! my real-life friend! I kind of miss her, the holidays have kept us apart far too long! Any way... tell me what your new years resolutions are.. I have serveral goals for 2010 not to mention training for a trip on my bike frome SanFancisco to San Diego.. shooting for summer 2011... I also will be riding in the Tour De Cure this year. I am excited about that!
Please be safe tonight home or out! Blessings for you new year!

Well MERRRY CHRISTMAS! and here is a fast easy inexpensive gift you can make for all your family and friends... SO super simple.. you go to the dollar store and buy a candle in a glass container.. like mine.. it cost me a dollar at Michaels. Then you dig out some of your Christmas rub-ons and apply them to the outside of the candle add a little bling ( I went all the way around -- I tried to show that in the photo) then tie some bakers twine around it and wahhh-LA! you have a great gift for a neighbor or a friend that you love.. I also added a little bling to the top of the tree! This was a fun easy gift.. Please check out all the great gift ideas over at Practical Scrappers they are putting up new ideas every day! It is most inspiring! I love so many of the ideas that I am working on next years stuff already! Enjoy and if you have any questions, just leave a comment and I will address them as quick as I can.. oh and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Something Merry & Bright

OK so I have been too busy over the last few weeks.. AHHHH Christmas Season is upon us! But I do have a little fun thing I made for a gift wrap. It was on Practical Scrappers earlier this week but here it is again

So All I did was cut strips of paper and curl them with a pencil then adhere them in a "tree" shape then I put a fun flower on the top and added some stickles and bling for a fun homemade gift bag.. the best part, this is a total scrap-box user. I used all the same green paper, but there is no reason you can't use different shades of green paper. In fact I think that might look even better! I put this on a Kraft bag that I purchased in bulk so the actual cost was like 15 cents for the bag and the flower was about 5 cents and the paper was scrap so it was like half a sheet of paper so may be 25 cents stickles from a bottle had was may be a few cents and the bling was a few cents so lets put this handmade bag to the cost.... IF I strech it to be the most I could.... like 50-75 cents a bag.. NOW THAT is cutting cost on packaging but not STYLE! LOl

Have a very merry Christmas!

e

PS I was thinking of adding miscellanous ribbons to the handles but for the sake of cost I didn't.. you could and it would be awesome.. a ribbon stash buster.. so a few more cents and it is still cheaper than a plain ole' one color bag from your local super store!

Ive really done it now

I did it..... I joined Facebook! I fought it because of past experience with mySpace (which I still think is dangerous and a bad idea) But with a little coaxing from family, I gave it a whirl... I am amazed at all the people that I have found from High School and other people I have not seen or heard from in a long time. What an easy way to communicate with people. It feels safer to me too because you have to confirm the friends and it doesnt seem like I get as many creepers trying to befriend me. In fact, so far everyone has been someone I know!

Anyway.. I am offically a facebooker! OH and if it were not for my daughter and brother, I would be soooo lost! Thanks guys. Now I need to figure out what this "fan" thing is and how it works...

THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG!

Well this was the weekend I have been forbidden to discuss... Papa's SURPRISE Birthday Party!

We were successful in surprising Dan and I am happy to say all the out of town family seemed to have enjoyed themselves! So I am happy and Mom is happy and Dan is happy and everyone is happy. I would like to just give props to my wonderful supportive HUSBAND that I could not have done all this without! Thank you Dave.

We went to the Grand Canyon yesterday and I will post some photos/layouts a little later, BUT I do want to post a photo of the Christmas Card I made for Practical Scrappers. Please hop over there and take a look at some of these amazing cards this week truly inspiring.

Have I got a life changing tip for you!!!!

LIFE CHANGING TIP : well it is maybe not LIFE changing, but it will save you time money and a lot of elbow grease...
When I first heard this I was like ok I will give it a try. If it doesnt work all I am out is an ounce or so of Dawn Dishsoap and some vinegar... OH you heard it right...
SO here is the recipe:

1 part DAWN dishwashing liquid (it said Dawn but I don't know if others work but DAWN does)
5 parts Vinegar
water

so mix those ingredients into a spray bottle. Go to your soap scum and say GOOD BYE it has been nice having you as a guest but you are outta here... seriously... Spray it on wait a few hours, spray again... then wait a little longer *I waited overnight* and then got turn on your shower or whatever and with a rag gently wipe away the soap scum! While you are waiting you can toss all those other soap scum cleaners because you will never need or want to use them agian...Now if you have bad soap scum it may take a day or two of this process.. my mom had to do this a couple times.NO LIE it is amazing to watch it just slid off... I promise if you have soap scum.. anywhere spray this one and go..
It should replace your "daily shower spray" I use it when I get out of the shower and my husband doesnt, but really it doesnt matter because I believe once a week is enough.. but you will never scrub your shower or bathtub again...

FURTHER TIPS for ya...
1. use a scented Dawn I used the Apple and it helps with the smell of vinegar..
2. get over the vinegar smell because it is worth it
3. used the clear distilled vinegar not any other...

I hope you try this because it works on all the surfaces that may have soap scum the shower door, the walls the fawcet whatevea.. Seriously don't delay like I did. JUST TRY IT ASAP!

Just a warm fuzzy

OK so anyone that knows my husband and my son you know where to cloth was cut from. Brad looks like and acts just like his dad.. which is awesome cause I like his dad a lot... but sometimes when you see a little of you in your kid that is so like the other parent it give you a warm fuzzy.... SO I have had a library of my kids books from when they were little (like 1500 books) and I have them labeled and in a systematic order. I did this so they as small children always knew where to put them back and it helps you from buying the same book twice, and also helped to teach them how to put our books in order. This was from like years ago... we have since given away many of those books but we still have many of them packed away waiting for someday when my kids have kids...

Well, today I went into my sons room to try and find a DVD I needed to return, and when I opened his little cabinet, this is what I found. He has taken his books and made his own library, using his own numbers. SOOOOO adorable. I am just full of warm fuzzies today! He is kinda like his mom I suppose! hehehe