Here I am!

Ok, so I have really got to do something about my famous (or not so famous) disappearing acts. Life has been good. I went to the Close To My Heart Regionals celebration in Las Vegas and had a blast... but then I got really sick... and even convinced myself I didn't have any homework due in my class. That didn't work out so well for me. I ended up doing three chapters of homework in two days and then hubby was home.... then there was the tax return that had to be done so that I could do our first FAFSA application for Josh and life and work and church and stamping and....that pretty much brings you up to date.

I've actually been having fun stamping and I have a bunch of projects to show for it. Above is my next workshop project for all my stamping buddies. I adapted it from one we did at our local team meeting, which was from another team meeting, which was from??? Many hands played a part in the development of this class.

I added my own spin by switching the papers, changing the card design a little bit and using peanut butter cups! I've already shown the whole "nugget label thing" so I thought I'd use fun spring candies and make it an Easter project.

I also got my photo tent!!! I used to use a light box my son and I built, but it had tissue paper sides, took up a bunch of room and took a bit of a beating. For a while I've just been taking pictures on my table, but I haven't been real happy with how they have turned out. Now I have my very own and sorta professional looking photo tent. I bought the 16" because I thought it would be small and portable and fit on my table and.... well... I might have to upgrade to the 24", but I'm going to try and make it work for now.

Enjoy!

and

Stamp Til Dawn!

Stamping, Stamping, Stamping

Guess what I did this weekend??? It has been raining pretty much non-stop and the roof did not leak (woo hoo!! Thanks hubby!!!!) And for some reason, rain and stamping just seem to go together. There's nothing better than a rainy day, a cup of hot chocolate and some stamping projects.

Gail came over on Saturday and we worked on some projects for our workshops/crops this month. We had so much fun. It was totally a team effort. One of us would add an element and then pass the card to the other one to add something else.

Here's the "Love" card we created

And our adorable Serendipity clips! (Mine is on the left, Gail's is on the right. I like her flowers better!!)

Tamale Day

Every year I look forward to going to my Dad's house to help my Step-Mom and Step-Sisters make tamales. Since I'm such a messy tamale maker, I have to wear an apron. Somehow I get masa everywhere. The past couple of years I have thought it would be fun to make "tamale" aprons. Usually I come up with the brilliant idea while we are making the tamales, or as I'm walking out the door to go.

This year I thought of it earlier. In fact I even tried to sucker my step-mom into helping me make them, but she didn't take the hint.

About a week or so later, I actually bought some cute Christmas fabric and a pattern. Then I got busy.

The day before I told my friend Gail that I had thought about making the aprons and had even bought the fabric. Being the good friend that she is, she said "You have to do it!"

Ok, ok.... so I got busy and I made four aprons. I stayed up until midnight and then finished them up in the morning...1 hour before I had to be at Dad's house and I am soooo glad I did it. I'll need to make a few more next year. Four doesn't even begin to outfit everyone who stops by to help, but it was a start....

Here are the completed aprons.

After we were done, they adorned the wall in the kitchen.

Not everyone helps with the tamales, there are always other fun projects around to do. Cassie, Lucy and Leah made the gingerbread houses. They turned out sooo cute!

Steadfast

Hubby was home for 6 glorious days and I was off from work, so I ignored everything and just did family stuff. We shopped and ate and got projects done and pretended we were a normal family for a few days. It was really nice to have so much time together. It's the most consecutive time we have spent together in 1.5 years. Of course that made it even harder to say goodbye this morning.

Now it's time to get back to work and get back to my "normal" schedule. I was so preoccupied that I didn't even think about my New Year Resolutions!! I have a couple in mind and I'm planning to ruminate and think about a few others over the next day or two.... but I did decide on my word for the year - Steadfast.

I'm borrowing it from the 2008 church theme for our youth. "Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works" (Mosiah 5:15).

I know the things I need to do and accomplish and I've made good strides in implementing things that will make life go more smoothly. My problem is that I'll be really focused for a while and then let things slip, then I refocus, then let things slip. This year I want to be steadfast. I want to be steadfast in my exercise and eating habits, steadfast in maintaining peace and organization in my home, steadfast in performing my church callings and steadfast in my responsibilities at work. To me steadfast implies strength of resolve. I do not plan to be so unwavering that I can't allow for life's little surprises, but I want to be strong and steady in the choices that I make each day.

Manager's Meeting

Well I had to cancel scrapbook club because of the nasty flu bug, so I still can't post some fun things I've created... Thankfully my Close To My Heart upline hosted a fabulous manager's meeting so I can post something fun.

(Shhhh.....don't tell her about this picture. I'm hoping she's busy with the holiday rush and doesn't come check my blog until I send this to her... and if you're here Bren... Surprise!!! This is what we did when you went to pick up our fabulous lunch!)

First let me say... we are soooo spoiled!!! Bren always goes above and beyond for all of our fun events and this was no exception.

At our place setting we each had one of these fun canvas bags? filled with goodies.

Including this gorgeous watch!

Then we created!!! Here's a recruiting board featuring one of the Good Times paper pack.

And an adorable little journal!

We also created a cute little purse/packet using a sheet protector, but apparently I forgot to take a picture of it. Ooops.

I wanted a clean start...

Ok, so it's that most magical time of year...when everything revolves around food.... and while my eating habits have certainly changed, I have still indulged in a bit more than I'm used to. So this week I recommitted myself. I made some yummy taco soup and I was well on the way to recovery when I got a little help in the form of stomach flu.

Yep, it's been fun around our house. Poor Joshua and I got it at the same time. I think the only thing worse than having stomach flu, is getting it at the same time as your son, so that you feel completely useless. I had to call a friend and ask her to leave a 7-Up delivery on my porch. Thankfully she thought to leave some crackers too.

We're both on the mend now. Actually I think one of us is mending quicker than the other. He just called me on my cell phone (our primary mode of communication through this ordeal) and asked me to take him to Taco Bell for dinner. While it wouldn't be my first choice, at least I don't have to prepare it, cook it, smell it or eat it, so he just might get what he wants....if I can dredge up the energy to drive the car.

So, I guess this falls under the "be careful what you wish for" category. I've got a clean start and I dropped 8 pounds in one day, but it wasn't the most enjoyable experience. Of course cookies and candy and holiday treats have lost their hold on me so maybe I'll be able to re-focus and lose those 8 pounds for real.

This and That

No pictures to post today, but rather than get back in a blogging slump I thought I'd give a little written update of all that I have been working on....

1) Top secret gifts for my friday night scrapbook club. Since I know some of them read the blog, mums the word....but I'm having a terrible time keeping it a secret!

2) Knitting, knitting, knitting... yep I've been working on the log cabin blanket that I started for Rick last year. It's too big to really lug around like I used to and I took a little break from working on it over the summer, but now that it's cold and I'm still on the "I'm not allowed to walk" program, I've been knitting in the car during the chilly mornings when Josh is in seminary.

3) Crochet - My portable, take everywhere project is a soft yellow baby blanket for a friend who loves the color yellow.

4) I've made several layouts for Josh's Europe album, but since the picture party has been postponed, it's no longer on the "hot priority" list. I'm planning to take pictures of the layouts I've finished tonight.

5) Cookie Exchange. Yep, I got suckered into the cookie exchange again this year and no it did not escape me that Laura increased the amount of cookies to 10 dozen!!! I got them done and packaged up and I forgot to take a picture!!! But I won the prize for best displayed cookies, so you'll have to take my word for it that they looked cute in their little packages. :-)

6) Last night we went to the stake Christmas program and it was absolutely beautiful. The choir sounded so professional. They are performing on the temple grounds next Sunday. I might just have to go see them again. Speaking of performances, if you want to experience some good old fashioned Christmas spirit, I highly recommend catching one of the choir performanances at the San Diego Temple. Every night a different choir performs. It's especially fun right now, when it's so chilly. (I'm looking around to see if I can find a schedule, but so far no luck. I know they start at 7pm though)