The Cards Are Done...

and picked up from Costco... now I just need to mail them - UG!

Good thing it's a Merry Christmas/Happy New Year card :)

Is Christmas Really Over?

Is it really?? I actually can't believe it... really, I can't!

It all started with the tree. You see, we normally go out "hunting for a tree" as my daughter calls it. We load up with snacks, drinks and the chain saw and go searching in the mountains about an hour away from home. But this year, we thought, let's see if we can find one on a lot. And we did. The most perfect tree that we've ever had - tall, thin and just the right fullness for our ornaments to hang. What made it even more perfect was it took us less than 5 minutes to find it, pay for it and load it in the truck.

We got it home... put it in the right place... PERFECT! We got out the lights the next evening and I started to put them on the tree - tip: if you hate the lights moving as much as I do, use ornament hooks as twisty ties to keep the lights where you want them to stay...

Anyway... this is about where it all gets not so perfect :) The tree stayed 1/3rd lit for about 2 weeks - yes, I'm embarrassed to say it, the tree stayed that way until my Christmas break. About a day into break, I was able to get the tree lit, ornaments on and decorations out - it was great! I realized why I like the holidays so much - everything is so festive :)

And then, after finishing up the remaining few orders for Christmas (in between taking care of the little one who was sick and then myself once she got a bit better) I was finally able to get the gifts wrapped... on Christmas Eve. Crazy.

What's even crazier?? Is that it's already over!!

It was so great seeing the reaction to Santa on our sweet little girl's face. Especially when she said to us, "Santa is so smart!" because he knew exactly what she had asked for (3 Muskateers Barbie and Santa Buddies movie - which didn't seem unreasonable to me!).

So... in the aftermath of Christmas, I will be spending the remainder of my time on vacation going through all her clothes and toys to see what we will keep and what will be donated. But, it was worth it - family and friends and the magic of Christmas!!

Oh.... and did I tell you?? I'll also be making our holiday card, ordering a book from Shutterfly for my dad and making some jewelry for my sisters who all live in Norway (and who I'm hoping won't mind that their gifts are a bit late!!).

And my plan after that?? Rest a bit, re-organize a bit and get geared up for a new year!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!

ALL THE TRIMMINGS Treasury on Etsy

An unexpected day home with the little one (she told me she "didn't feel reely goot") and an even more unexpected chance to get a treasury on Etsy.

As a kindergarten teacher, it's impossible to get a chance to have a moment to myself during the day, much less get on the computer and considering it's almost vacation, little one getting sick wasn't in my plans!

So when I woke up and turned on the computer, I was thrilled to see that new treasuries would open up soon and that I would be home! So I started searching and found THE MOST ADORABLE Christmas ornaments and the treasury was born!!

I'd love for you to come by and comment:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=99132

And I'd also love for you to log on to Etsy and see all these talented ornament makers - these would be just PERFECT for that handmade tree sitting in your livingroom!!

First Row (left to right)

allthingssmall

lovahandmade

spacemoderne

Second Row

MiniMonster

TheHouseofMouse

madmarycreations

Third Row

PinkPerch

chichiboulie

Kikitaly

Fourth Row

KimsCraftyApple

alphabulous

PoorRobin

They did it... they actually did it!

It's taken me a while to get a picture of "the Easter Egg" as my daughter puts it. Most of the time, I'm driving when I'm heading past this and well, that would be insanity trying to hold a camera as I try to avoid the semi trucks blazing past! But... it just so happened that my hubby was driving the car with us the other day and I was able to snap a picture.

When it first went up (when it was still white) we were convinced that it would get tagged. And sure enough, only a few days after it was painted this color, it was. I wish I could post those pictures, but that would be inappropriate :)

I still shake my head and giggle everytime that I see it - especially since this olive orchard doesn't grow martini type olives.

Now I'm just waiting for us to be on one of those TV shows! It's just a matter of time.....

A Fantastic Giveaway!

You HAVE to go check out this incredible giveaway at the Preppy in NewEngland blog! I happened to be on Facebook at the right time because when I saw these adorable creations, I just had to click and check it out. Now it's your turn... go and enter - you'll be glad you did!

http://preppyinnewengland.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-england-giveaway.html

Me?? Team Member of the Month?? I Can't Believe It!!

I'm so excited! I just found out that the lovely ladies at Team EtsyBABY made me... yes, me... Team Member of the Month! It's such a thrill and I'm so honored! The ladies that have received this award before me are so talented and do so much for this team and I am just incredibly thrilled to be a part of that group! I was just thinking today about what I would be doing if I wasn't doing this business and I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing in my spare time. I have met such amazing people and developed friendships that I absolutely treasure! I wouldn't trade it for anything!

One Word Wednesday..... WHAT?!?!?!

So, I've always known that I live in a small town... the only places we can go to buy anything is Safeway, the Dollar Store and the truck stop. But it's really quiet where we live and we've got incredible views of Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen on a clear day. Most of the time the benefits far out weigh the disadvantages of needing to drive 30 minutes EVERYTIME we need to buy something. Not much happens here - there is the occasional community event, but other than that it's pretty mellow.

And then one day, we saw these workers filling fabric tubes with sand and wrapping them around a metal frame. My first thought?? They are building something to protect the well. They have their olive orchard on the corner of a major road that links two highways and it has been hit before. And then they kept going up and up and more and more round. And then one day, we drove by and saw that they had plastered around it and added the spear.

What?!?! We're still waiting to see if they paint it like an olive (that would be the only thing that makes any sense what so ever) but so far this is it.... a big, huge white egg with a spear through it. No one can say this town is boring!!