Thankful Thursday

So at first I thought well OK... you were too boring today so you don't even have a picture to share for Thankful Thursday... and you know how I hate to post without a picture to share.  Why?  I have no idea... just doesn't feel right.  You need to see a picture right?  It's like a story with no pictures... what fun is that? 

Anyway... then it occurs to me that I had two Christmas pictures I didn't share on the Extreme Christmas Edition because the new blogger interface?  Annoying when it comes to vertical pictures.  It likes to lay them on their side and so far I have not been able to figure out how in the heck to get it to turn them!  Any other bloggers out there know the secret password for that little trick? 

But you are saying.. Deanna.. the pictures are right side up.  What are you talking about?  Well that is because I had to sign in, revert to the old blogger interface, revert to the old blogger editor, start a new post, add my pictures, save... and then undo all that reverting and get back here to post.  Whew... aren't you tired just after reading all that?  Wears me out!  I must have REALLY wanted to show you these pictures right?  Don't you feel special?  I thought so...

Well what we have here is a picture of our tree with all our gifts placed nicely under... or almost under the tree.  This of course was just moments before we began ripping into them on our Christmas on the 23rd!  See the big talllll box by the rocking chair?  That was for Darrel.  I had to wrap that thing.  I am not a fan of wrapping remember?  AND I am a height challenged non long armed person who had to wrestle that box to get the paper around it!  I am sure it was quite a sight that Darrel is sad that he missed out on.  He would have found it quite entertaining. 

He was just dying to find out what was in that big box.  I was worried he would be disappointed because really... I was thinking it wasn't all that exciting.  You know like a big build up for the fabulous big box only to find out its filled with underwear or brussel sprouts or something equally as fun.... This is what was inside.  An anti-fatigue workshop mat.  I thought it was cool and would help him fix up his garage/workshop but on the other hand thought he might open it and think.... what was she thinking... Like I was getting him throw rugs for his garage or something.  ha!  NO... my thought was when he was standing in one place woodworking for a long time, it would be good for that... AND I read a review where one guy said it was good to use to lay on when you were working under the car.  Those are good ideas right?  Or is that just a girl thing, cause I'd totally have to confess I have no delusions that I think like a guy.... I mean I enter the craftsman area... and try to pick out a gift all by myself... and um it's like I've entered a foreign speaking land and I DO not know the language. 

So what was the verdict?  He liked it and currently it is laying across the middle of my bedroom floor.  See the bedroom is hardwood, the living room still has carpet and he wanted to see what it felt like on the hard floor.  It has remained there since last Friday.  I told him yesterday that although I am enjoying getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and repeatedly being startled by its presence as I step on what is normally wood floor..... I am thinking it is not the decorating statement I am trying to make in the pink and sage bedroom.  He said he saw my point but now of course is secretly enjoying the fact that the thing is startling me on a nightly basis.... I am hoping it will be moving to the garage soon. 

I also informed him when I made this purchase I restrained myself and made myself remove the RED anti-fatigue mat from my cart in exchange for the black that I knew he would pick instead.  I just thought the red was cuter... but am thinking cute is probably not the decorating statement he is trying to make in the garage.... And there you have it.  All you ever wanted to know and more about anti fatigue mats! 

Here is another rejected photo because of its portrait orientation... that you now get to see!  This was also from our Christmas on the 23rd.  Before we opened gifts Darrel read the Christmas story from the Bible from Luke 2.  I liked starting the evening that way.  Are you noticing the evening was further enhanced by the fact that he read from my pretty pink Bible?  I told you pink makes everything better especially if there is a cute guy involved. 

So what have we accomplished on day one of vacation?  Um little or nothing.. but that's a plus on vacation right?  I thought so.. We slept in and were very lazy about getting up.  I mean its just more fun to watch The Price is Right while laying in bed don't ya think?  When we did get up, for some strange reason I volunteered to make turkey sausage gravy.  We still don't know why.  I didn't have a fever or anything... perhaps I have brain damage from all the stinking coughing?  Well Darrel wasn't about to talk me out of that idea... So since I'm handling breakfast he hit the recliner and put his feet up right?  No.  He decided if we were having gravy, he would make Bisquick biscuits... and he did.  Actually they were quite yummy and went very well with my gravy which I must admit..... came out perfectly.  After that he spent some time working on the car.  I played on the Internet and watched a Project Runway marathon.  I also spent some time being annoyed that I am still coughing... and tried to relax and de-stress which always seems to take me a day or two. 

I signed up for 2 classes today.  Both designed to help me get on track better in the new year with my eating and working out.  One is the Made To Crave Bible Study with Proverbs 31 ministries.  I already did this study once at church, but it was good material and I have felt the need to go thru the book again to get this stuff embedded in my head!  I figure this online version of the study was a good way to accomplish that. 

Then my friend Jill had told me about a Cathy Zielske scrapbooking class called Move More Eat Well 2012.  I decided to join this class also.  I figure I need all the positive reinforcement I can get.  I have some big plans and goals for 2012 and right thinking is KEY for me to have any kind of success. 

OK.. then after I join these 2 classes I realize I also have a new Bible Study class starting at church in January.  We are doing Priscilla Shirer's Jonah study.  OK.. so that's 3 classes starting in January.  No problem.... Right. 

But wait... that's not all.  You knew that wasn't all didn't you?  I also recently purchased Becky Higgins Project Life materials and planned to start that in January.  I've been on the fence about this since she first introduced this product and for whatever reason this year I decided to take the plunge! 

So.. four new things in January.  I can handle that right?  Maybe I'll keep myself too busy to eat?! Ha!  At least distracted from food maybe... Made to Crave is just like 6 weeks, Jonah is like 12-14.  The other two things are kind of year long, but Project Life should be once a week and Cathy Z's class is I think like once a month?  Let's hope.  Just think of all the new topics these things will give me to share here on the ol' blog... see... beneficial to you too.  That's what you were thinking right? 

So tomorrow for date night, we have no specific plans. Maybe dinner and a movie or maybe we will still be just way too lazy to leave the house... time will tell.  New Year's Eve?  Well that would be a pizza and movie time as we wait for the clock to reach midnight! Possible movies in the line up are... Apollo 18, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Larry Crowne, or a Dolphin's Tale.  Guess we shall see what is available to rent,but last time I looked at least 3 were on pay per view.  That will make life easier. 

Seeing that I have missed a thankful list or two...I am sure I can come up with a thing or two for this week.  I have been thankful for:

• Christmas with family
• an amazing husband who knows me so well and always does his own shopping and picks out the perfect gifts
• getting to sing at church on Christmas even though I was quite sick!
• gifts from amazing friends
• vacation time
• seeing Darrel open his gifts
• reading the Christmas story with Darrel
• Sophie who is all healed!  thank you Jesus!
• time at home
• Christmas baking
• being featured on the smash blog!
• a shopping day with my Mom
• sleeping in
• working on my smash book
• hot chocolate
• dinner at La Carreta to start off vacation
• chocolate in my Christmas stocking
• and OK... a fully packed Christmas stocking
• seeing friends and family enjoy the gifts we got for them
• watching the children's Christmas programs
• cuties... you know those little mandarin oranges?  I have discovered I really like those!
• a very Vera Christmas
• my beautiful new Fossil watch
• Jennier Aniston perfume
• Darrel making me a bracelet buddy
• new scrapping stuff (punches and twine)
• homemade milkshakes... we've discovered we make pretty good ones!
• french toast with homemade bread
• did I mention vacation time?  It's worth repeating. 

Well it's late.. but if we aren't hitting bed yet I just might go do some scrapping.  All the best scrapping happens after midnight right?  Blessings!

Extreme Ten on Tuesday... Christmas Edition

1) Well did you think I dropped off the face of the earth?  I've not been a good little blogger here during Christmas have I?  Let's see if I can catch you up, beginning with where we left off.   Was pretty caught up with the Christmas to do list.. was sick... was trying to bake....

2) And here we have Darrel helping with the baking!  Don't you just love a man who cooks... and cleans?  I sure do.  He helped me a lot in the kitchen.  Here he was mixing up the cake for the cake balls.  Yes.  All by himself.  He also helped me so much by cleaning up after me as I finished one batch, and moved on to the next. I could bake all day if someone else is willing to clean! ha!

3) Here are the completely yummy cake balls... Each year when I taste the first one I realize I had forgotten just how good they are.  They are a bit tedious to make which I am guessing is why they only tend to get made at Christmas.  Between the cake baking... waiting for the cake to cool... the mixing with the icing, the forming into balls... the chilling, the dipping... It turns into quite the job.  AND trust me when I tell you dipping is not my best thing.  I think I need dipping lessons... or, just continue to drizzle them with chocolate when I am finished which looks decorative, but secretly hides all my dipping flaws... Now you know the secret too.  Don't you feel special?

4) Here is the result of all of the baking.  We managed to come up with Iced Sugar Cookies, Tiger Butter, Peanut Butter Temptations, No Bake Cookies, Rolo Pretzels, Cake Balls, Oatmeal Cinnamon Chips, Chocolate Chip Walnut, Butter Toffee, and Chex Mix.  Darrel made the Chex Mix all on his own. 

5) Usually we haul all of the many tins with us to my parent's house when we go for Christmas Eve and Christmas.  When we got there my brother is like what do you have with a reeses in it?  Do you have cake balls?  Pretzels... I look at him and he has a cake ball in his mouth, a peanut butter cup cookie in one hand and a rolo pretzel in the other... I so wish I had a picture... He said I was awesome.  I'll take that as high praise coming from a little brother.  Wouldn't you?

6) Look at the cool gifts from my friend Lisa and Darrel's sister Renita.  Renita and family sent us the book and their package had a very cute gift tag which must go in the smash book.  Lisa... well she outdid herself.  She gave us a plate of red velvet cookies.  YUM.  She made the little snowflake gift tag, which was 3D.  So cute!  Then she gave me this beautiful Christmas platter and cute little knife!  LOVE.  She also made the little pink box, and it has little papers in to look at each day with a positive thought or quote on it.  So cool.  She did several things using her silhouette die cutter... she keeps telling me I need one.. she about has me convinced. 

7) This... was Darrel's Christmas project this year.  He saw kits online where you could make knives.  He bought the kit which had the blade and rivets, and he made the handles out of Cherry Wood.  Aren't they beautiful?  He made one for each of our Dad's and one for my brother and our brother in law Jim.  The guys really liked them.  It was cute... Jason opened his first.  Then Jim got one...and my Dad was sitting there almost pouting like well hey... how come I didn't rate one?  He of course opened his next and I swear for the rest of the evening each time I looked at the three of them they were holding their knives... it must be a guy thing.  Jason spent 1/2 the time sharpening his and then trying to shave the hair off of his hand... definitely a guy thing. 

8) Have I shown you my stocking this year?  My husband deserves an award in Christmas stocking filling.  This was just before opening... or should I say unpacking... ha!  The little pile there next to it?  That was the overflow... He had chocolate and packages sitting below it, hanging off of it and bulging out of it.... Oh and in case you are confused... I am so not complaining.. I love it!

9) Darrel and I had our Christmas on Friday the 23rd.  We were both off for the day and we knew the rest of the weekend was going to be really busy. So we spent the afternoon baking.  We had such fun.  My favorite was making cut out sugar cookies.  Darrel kept ripping the heads off his angels and I was having trouble with broken trees.  We decided these cookies were going to have to be from the Island of Misfit Toys.. bwa ha ha ha.... In the evening we ordered pizza and barbecue from a restaurant in town for dinner.  YUM.  The place has been there for a year and this was our first order.  We have been missing out!  After that it was time for gifts!  We read the Christmas story from Luke 2 first, and then opened our gifts.  This was Darrel showing me that we should save the tags I made for the gifts.  Is he the sweetest? 

10) This was the very nice smile I got when he opened probably his favorite gift... xbox 360 with Kinnect!  It was so fun surprising him!  I got a fabulous bundle deal on a lighting deal at Amazon on Black Friday.. I kept second guessing myself though and almost cancelled the order several times. SO glad I didn't because he was so tickled!  He had it set up before the night was over and was "running" thru our living room playing football... it was very cute! 

11) These are my gifts from Darrel.  The whole right side from the perfume and punches over was the stuff packed into my stocking.  Under the tree he had a Vera B purse, a Martha S. punch around the page set, an EK Success butterfly layer punch, Jennifer Aniston perfume, a beautiful white/rose gold ceramic fossil watch, and... a bracelet buddy.  I need to take a better picture to show you.  He made it!  It is one of those things with a handle and clip to hold your bracelet in place so you can put it on by yourself.  It is pink and sooo pretty and I love that he made it!  He is good!  I think I mentioned that.... Oh.. the Martha leaf punch, Godiva Santas and dove chocolate... that was all crammed in the stocking too.  I made out quite well in the chocolate department.

12) We had Christmas Eve at my parents on Saturday.  We played Kinnect

as you can see here.... I should have shown you the picture where my brother kept scratching his rear end on purpose.. because he thought it was funny to make his kinnect avatar do the same thing... Yes... that would be my little brother folks... I think they were playing tennis here.  Anyway.. after the Kinnect, we made homemade pizza for dinner and then had our gift opening time because Lauryn (my niece) had to work on Christmas day.  It was a very Vera Christmas from my parents!  They gave me the purse, flip flips, key chain and umbrella you see above.  I love a Vera Christmas...

13) Received a few more gifts from friends on Sunday!  Have I mentioned I love presents?  Yes?  The basket was from my friend Ashly and her family.  It was stuffed full of pink stuff and homemade bread.. which Darrel turned into french toast on Monday.  YUM.  The calendar and pink lip balm was from my friend Julia.  There was also a pink bag of ghirardelli that didn't make the photo. 

14) Christmas Day, Sunday, did not start off well.  I hardly slept due to the coughing.  I had to be up early because I was supposed to sing.  I woke up SO sick... Nauseous from no sleep and too much meds and too much cold yuck!  I somehow managed to get a shower and get cleaned up and get there... but I was supposed to sing, and um talking, I was still sounding like a croaking frog.  I didn't make up my mind till like 15 min. before service to go ahead and give it a try.... I was praying and told God if he wanted me to sing, He'd sure have to show up and handle it.  He must of because I manged to get thru the song without croaking or having a coughing fit.  Was so glad because I was really looking forward to getting to do the song and be a part of the Christmas service. 

15) On Monday I think the whole busy week and weekend and the not sleeping and this bad cold totally caught up with me.  I did nothing.  I felt yucky and slept a lot.  Darrel tried out the xbox side of his new game with a new star wars game and was quite happy with that!  Today and tomorrow it's back to work!  I have these 2 days to get the week's worth of stuff done and to be ready for vacation! yay!  Cannot wait! 

I promised an extreme Ten on Tuesday... I am thinking 15 for the price of 10 qualifies right?  I hope your Christmas was amazing!  Tune in again by Thursday and hopefully I'll have some smash pages and vacation happenings to share!  Burt for now I bid you goodnight!  Blessings! 

Ten on Tuesday

1) Yes, the baking has begun.  Barely.  But I did get these made last night.  A new recipe from my friend Candace.  Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies.  I was a little worried, when I opened the Cinnamon Chip bag that the Cinnamon would be overpowering.  Like oh say.. adding a bag of red hots to the cookies.  I was wrong.  Instead, it gives it a nice touch of cinnamon, like cinnamon toast, and makes quite a yummy cookie!  And an added bonus?  My house smelled like Cinnabon while they were baking.  I was just noticing the picture of their cookies on their website?  Mine are not that thick?  Wonder why... I did make mine bigger, but they spread out flat.  Still taste yummy... I think I prefer them this way.  Nice and chewy. 

2) Was going to continue on the baking schedule today.  Did I?  Um no... Came home from work SICK... yes again!  So sick of being sick.  Was sick what like a month ago with a viral infection.  Took forever to get better, but I did.  Then like a week later, started feeling a touch of something right before the Christmas Party.  Felt bad for a day or two, but got past it.  Thought I was done... Then Darrel got sick and now?  Last night and today... Me... sick again. I am thinking enough of this!  Sore throat, achy, chills, stomach yucky, coughing... you name it, we both seem to have it.  No fair to both be sick at the same time cause then who takes care of who?  Ha! 

3) Have I ever shown you this salad from La Carreta?  It is SO good.  I had this for our staff Christmas luncheon at work and took a picture for my smash book.  This is a grilled shrimp and chicken salad.  They grill the shrimp.  They grill the chicken.  They grill the peppers, onion, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, put it on top of romaine, add a little cheese and viola!  Fabulous yummy "salad."   The saddest moment when eating this salad?  Well that would be when you discover you've eaten all the shrimp....

4) So the wrapping... she is done.  Well for the most part.  Mine is done.  Darrel is at this moment working on wrapping my gifts and yes... that would be while he is sick.  I tried to convince him he should rest... he is stubborn.  Unlike me.  Did you just spit diet Pepsi on the computer when I said that?  Sorry.. OK.. so we are both stubborn.  Anyway... this was from the beginning of the wrapping.  Still on the whole kraft paper theme that I love... and yep sticking with that.  It looks pretty all coordinated under the tree  I did notice though that our bag of bows had a bunch of pink ones.  I told Darrel those should be for my presents.  Do we think he will grab hold of that idea?

5) Sunday.. the day of the big Children's Christmas programs at church.  They were so cute.  Our pastor calls those kinds of mornings "controlled chaos" which is a pretty good description of getting all the little ones to the right place at the right time.  ha!  They did an amazing job and I loved hearing the Christmas story thru their eyes. 

6) OK you have to see what my friend Lori gave me for Christmas.  How stinkin' cool are these pink Christmas decorations?  Love them. And they look very fabulous next to my pink Christmas tree.  I mean pink, sparkly, glittery, Christmas... what's not to love?  But... was she done there? Nope.  Look...

She also made me this fabulous scarf... I am envious of her knitting skills!  She also made snowman gum!! So cute... and a fabulous little pink polka dot "D" stocking with a Thirty One flower, nail file and some Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer inside.  She spoils me... and yes... I love it!

7) On the subject of fabulous gifts, LOOK at this sign my friend Kay gave me.  I love it.  I totally agree with what it says and it is so fabulous I think I need 2... One for my office.  One for my scrap room.  Heck.. maybe one for every room! ha!  She also gave me this pretty journal and ornament.  I *heart* presents.  Have I mentioned that?

8) You is Kind... You is Smart... You is Important.  Have you read the book or seen the movie The Help?  Well I read the book over the summer and then finally this past Friday, for date night, we got to see the movie!  It was so good.  Stayed very true to the book and reminded me again how much I loved that quote.  What a simple thing to do to say those words to Mae Mobley every day to help build her self esteem.  I love it and think we should all have someone tell us that every day! 

9) So how is your Christmas to do list?  I am in decent shape I guess... Shopping done.  Wrapping done.  Christmas Cards have arrived, been addressed (God bless mail merge...), and been sent.  Packages sent.  Guess just the baking is left.... Which was the way I planned it.  I like to leave that till last so things are fresh... and so this last week can be more relaxed and bake what you want when you want.. I of course didn't figure on having a flu/cold right in the middle of it... grrrrr. 

10) I have discovered another plus to December Daily Albums, or in my case, Smashing Holiday books... all those fabulous photo card and photos you receive in cards for Christmas?  Well now I have some place to keep them.  I love that.  I never know quite what to do with all of it, but this year, I am enjoying saving the photos, the cards, and all the litte scraps of whatever exciting thing happened that day... now if I just manage to actually glue it in the book right?  I'll get there... don't you worry. 

And now.. I shall head to bed, determined to wake up feeling soooo much better in the morning.  Right?  It could happen.  People are praying so no reason why not!  Blessings! 

Having A Smashing Holiday

Since I promised you more smash pages before the weekend was over... does Monday evening count?  That is part of the weekend right?  Ha... I wish.. Monday is so not my favorite day.  It's like the morning of the week and I am soooo not a morning person!  ha!

Anyway- although I am not caught up, I did manage to complete 2 more pages for my smash book and yes... it was so fun!  These pages are for Dec. 2nd and Dec. 4th.  On the 2nd, we went out for date night and saw Christmas lights so of course I decided my page needed Christmas lights.  What's a girl to do?  I didn't have any... so I drew some on the back of red patterned paper, cut them out, used a white pen for some detail and then "strung" them on some bakers twine with a little glue... see!

Not too shabby right?  I decided I like it and have pronounced it good.  That's all that counts right? 

December 4th was the day we did the advent reading so I included a copy of the reading, and also a picture of our sweet kitten Sydney.  Darrel had spent that afternoon working on his truck and while he was sitting on the garage floor, she climbed right up in his lap and made herself comfy.  This was a first so we of course had to commemorate the event.  The little tag in the lower right corner was in my Embellies kit from Evalicious.  How cute is that?  The tree stickers on the lights page were also in that kit.  It was interesting... when I started these 2 pages, I was not in love with the background pages in the smash book and had considered covering them up.  However.. .I just decided to go with it and ended up liking it.  Love how that works!

I have sooooo much more to share.  Got some cool gifts on Sunday and today.  Started the baking.  Had a great date night... but all of that will have to wait for Ten on Tuesday as my bed is calling me.  Remember when I was sick?  Then I got better.. .then got a touch of it again... then Darrel got sick... and now.. yep.. sore throat AGAIN... so tired of this.  I thought there was no illness allowed on Christmas week right?  Hope your week has gotten off to a good start.  See you tomorrow!  Blessings! 

Smashing the Holidays!

OK, how cool is it to pull up your blog reader and see the first post is from K & Co., Smash Blog... and the images are from my own pages?!   SO cool.  I heard from K & Co. today that my pages were featured so of course I had to rush right over there.  Been doing a happy dance every since!  I think... can one do a happy dance while sitting?  I think I've been managing it.  Might have done a cartwheel... but trust me, no one wants to see that.  Love my smash book and love getting to share my pages!  It totally has me fired up to go create some more.  But first... a list.  I need one of my lists because I am behind on my smashing holiday and I am getting quite confused on what happened on what day and what little pieces of stuff I have saved to smash!  See... lists are important even in scrapping. 

Sorry to have missed Thankful Thursday.  I was in fact thankful... even though I didn't post because I got to have a shopping day with my Mom.  I promise to be back soon to fill you in on all the details... but for now.. I must run because it is date night and trust me when I tell you my date is NOT with my blog.... Happy Weekend!  Blessings, 

Ten On Tuesday

1) Here it is... the sneak peek of this year's Christmas card.  We took some pictures before Darrel's work Christmas party on Saturday night.  Not bad for a DIY portrait right?  Made the cards on Shutterfly again this year.  They did a great job last year.  I used to use Walgreens the most, but they seem to have the same designs and I've kind of gotten bored with them.  Plus the Shutterfly ones come on a nice thick quality card stock!  That would make every scrapbooker happy right?!

2) Look what we saw on date night last Friday.  Yes... you are seeing correct.  Those are pink sequined Ugg boots.  Are those cute or what?  So OK.. they are probably a little too teenage for me... since I'm a bit past my teenage years... but still.... adorable right?  I like those bronzey ones to the far left too.  Maybe even more than the pink.  Did your mouth just drop open?  You didn't fall off your chair did you? Yep.  I said I liked something not pink... possibly better than pink.  What is the world coming to?

3) Here you have probably the all time favorite date night treat.  What's that you ask?  You did ask right?  Because of course you want to know what fabulousness is this chocolate ice cream you see... This my friends is Baskin Robbins Chocolate Mousse Royale.  SO good.  Apparently so good that one does not find it in the freezer just any ol' time of the year.  So how happy was I to find it there on date night!  Hoping it will still be around next time we head to the Big City! 

4) We found this year's snow globe while we did a little Christmas shopping on date night.  This will be our 3rd peanuts snow globe.  Very cute.  This one is supposed to be like a Snoopy balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade.  Balloon operators?  Why Woodstock of course.  Music?  Well its a marching band playing Joy To The World... Love it... brings me back to my marching band roots! 

5) So like I said earlier, before the big Christmas party on Saturday, we did our annual taking of the Christmas card photo.  We decided to just be at home this year in front of the tree.  If you could see the size of our living room and then add a Christmas tree, my tall husband, and a camera on a tripod... you might wonder if its a set up for something out of funniest home videos! ha!  I have no idea how he manages to get the shot set up, get his long legs out from behind the tripod with little or no space and manage to slide into place next to me and still look all cute and handsome... he is just that good.  Yes.. I know I gush.. .Deal with it.  :)  This was the shot we... OK I... chose for the card this year... here are a few other favorites... or should I say rejects.... all in how you look at it I guess.

OK so that last one was just a fun, hold out the camera and take our picture shot right before we left for the party.  Still was one of my favs! 

6) The party was great!  We had a nice dinner at the banquet room of the lodge at Spring Mill State Park.  When we got to the party... most of the room was gathered around a TV set at the front.  Why?  Apparently there was an important ISU basketball game on.  Color me clueless on the whole basketball thing but the party was off to a good start when our team apparently made a great play at a crucial moment and won the game.  Can you imagine what a good mood that put most of the room in?  I am sure they could hear the cheers out in the parking lot! ha!

7) Sunday we got to do our duet.  We weren't sure we'd be pulling it off as I came down with yet another cold and sore throat on Friday!  I asked for prayers and the worst of the cold seemed to miss me so at least the throat was in mostly working order by Sunday AM.  I spent the rest of the day however nursing a sore throat that was kind of strained from singing.  Just was so glad we didn't miss the party, or singing because of illness.  Was a little worried on Saturday at one point because was NOT feeling good.  This has also put me even more behind on my smash book.. and my working out... both of which do not make Deanna a happy girl.. and no one wants that.....

8) Tanner is now currently decked out in his Christmas finery... complete with a fresh haircut and Christmas bandanna.  What more does the well dressed dog need?  Perhaps a little doggie Santa hat?  I am thinking Darrel would be on a big no on that idea....

9) This evening Darrel was changing the litter box for sweet Sophie who is still currently in her rehab confinement ward in our spare room in the bathroom.  It was the only place we could think of to keep her contained, calm, quiet, and with little to climb on or hurt herself after surgery.  She has been doing well!  She seems to be healing, not getting worse as we feared and we are thanking the Lord for that!  Anyway... while cleaning, Darrel needed to move her, but still keep her corralled... so he put her in the shower stall for a moment while he ran the vacuum.  When he finished, and opened the door... she was gone.  He was like "where did she go?!"  I mean its a shower stall people!  Well... the only thing in the shower stall is a little black stool that I was using as a place to prop up my leg for shaving purposes when we were using that bathroom.  Under this little tiny step stool... he spots a kitten hiney stinking out... Apparently she was not a fan of the vacuum and the stool was the only place to take cover!  Bwa ha ha ha... would have liked a picture of that!

10) Remember the white polish, red/green/gold glittery tips manicure I mentioned.  Thursday night when I did it... liked it.  By Friday I was wondering if I looked like a craft project gone wrong or perhaps like I had forgotten to wash my hands after making some glittery ornaments for the tree.... However since I still have said manicure... I have apparently come to accept it.. and yes.. am even considering doing it again.. Now I'm thinking it would look cute with a gold polish base.... hmmmm

Ok... I am saying goodnight for now... and making a pledge that sometime this week... there WILL be a post with more smash pages.  There will.  I promise.  You'll see...  

Blessings! 

Thankful Thursday

PJ Day!  Otherwise known as mental health, have fun and scrap and eat yummy stuff and watch mindless TV day.  Not too many of these come around so a girl should enjoy herself while she can right?  I am thinking a big yes on that one.  I have been husbandless today for the entire day... like 6:30 AM -11:30 PM... It's his big work client Christmas party day.  It's also my day at home so I figured might as well make the best of it right?  If you have a day to yourself, who wants to do laundry and cook dinner right?  Um not me.  So... I slept in.  I might have eaten a donut.... I watched TV... I ordered myself some pizza for dinner... and yes... I did some creating!  The drawback on the pizza thing?  When my sweet husband isn't around taking care of me as he does oh so well... well then I have to go out in the cold and the dark to pick up my own stinkin' pizza.  Yes.  I am spoiled.... You love me anyway right?  Good.

Back to the tags!  Each year I find it a fun project to make our gift tags.  I love using the kraft paper, like last year, but wanted a different look this year.  Then I spied these tags on Nora Griffin's blog the other day and was inspired to come up with my own version.  Definitely wanted to play with my new Martha snowflake punches and then also used my Martha doily punch, and a sizzix die for the holly leaves.  I also used an old school sizzix die and my Big Shot.. .Big Kick.... whatever it's called... to make the tags.  Add a little ink, a stamped sentiment.. and Viola!  Gift tags.  Better than you can find at Target right?  Well I guess that would all depend on what look one is going for?!  ha!  I made 30 some tags total which should be enough for our gifts... if my count is correct.  Plus an extra for my Smashing Holiday book! 

Speaking of the Smashing Holiday book... I didn't get anymore of that done.  By the time the tags were complete this girl was tired of creating and needed her pizza.  She also needed to give herself a fresh holiday manicure for the big Christmas party this Saturday! 

Was noticing in my blog reader today that there are lots of cool new posts on the Smash Blog.  You should check them out!  Love the whole smash book idea... I want to finish this holiday one and still want to make one about the summer.  I saved lots of stuff to um.. smash into it.. bwa ha ha ha.  

I have plans and stuff for several more pages, and will save one of my tags on a page with the picture above.  I also got a cool little sheer bag in the mail yesterday with a mascara order.  Thinking it would be cool in there somehow, just haven't figured out how. 

Lots to be thankful for during this most wonderful time of the year.... like...

• that fresh manicure I mentioned.  I used this white frosty polish my friend Lori gave me and then a red/green/gold glitter polish on the tips... with one or two completely glittery nails.  I've either gone way over the top... or I look cute.  I'll stick with cute.  Mrs Claus probably has a manicure just like it. 
• PJ Mental Health day
• The pretty decorated Christmas tree across from me!
• this fabulous vanilla candle my friend Lisa gave me like 2 years ago.  We burn it every year at Christmas and it smells SO good and is still so huge!  Love it. 
• Sophie who seems to be recuperating
• my husband whom just got home safely from his work party
• getting dressed up for the party Saturday
• doing the Advent reading at church
• advent devotions with Darrel
• my new glasses
• Darrel filling the advent tree with Dove chocolate
• Christmas movies
• drawing the manger... that was fun
• my little wooden nativity scene from my boss many years ago
• a wonderful date night last Friday
• Christmas lights
• online friends
• holiday baking ingredients
• favorite antique Christmas ornaments
• the little Santa that Darrel put in my Christmas stocking back in like 1985 I'm guessing.  Maybe 84.  It was the first stocking I'd ever had (my family didn't do stockings) and his Mom made it for me so I'd have a stocking with his family.  Love that memory and the little Santa that sits on my table now.
• my pink suede Jessica Simpson platforms

Tomorrow is date night!  We have a little Christmas shopping to do I think otherwise known as an excuse to go to the big city for dinner.  :)  Hope your week has been good!  Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) The Advent tree is finally filled.  How did this happen?  Well last anyone heard from me......I was sad that I kept forgetting to buy chocolate, Dove Milk Chocolate Promises to be exact, to fill said tree so the December days were passing by with no drawers opened... no candy enjoyed.  What fun is that?  Until last night.  After my work out and my shower, I walked into the living room to discover the advent tree sitting in my chair, all in order, and quite full of yummy Dove Milk Chocolate.  Who was responsible for this?  That would be the best husband ever.... he just knows how to make me smile. 

2) I was quite happy to find he had placed two pieces of chocolate in each drawer, I normally do one.  I thought oh yummy - two pieces, yay!  And yes, I proceeded to eat all of them.  Only about midway thru the day today did it occur to me that perhaps there were two pieces of chocolate, one for Darrel and one for me.  Is it a really sad thing that it took me like 24 hours to think maybe I should have shared with my husband instead of being the human chocolate vacuum.  Apparently with chocolate and me... it's every man for himself! Ha!  And apparently my husband is too much of a nice guy to tell his wife to step away from the chocolate... or wait.. maybe that makes him really smart....

3) So I am in line at subway today rapidly becoming quite irritated at the man who had cut in line in front of me.  While I was busy ordering my sandwich, he had decided since he was just there to pay for and place some future order and haggle over the tax status that he was entitled to just skirt the line and head for the register.  I might not have found it too annoying if this had taken like 30 seconds.  This of course is NOT what happened as it went on and on and on...... After like 10 minutes he looks at me and says "Sorry."  Ya think?  Then of course I feel badly later because I wasn't gracious and didn't tell him it was OK.  It wasn't OK... he stinkin' cut in line in front of me and then took forever.... I didn't know what to say without saying something mean so I kept quiet... I know... I'm a wimp....

4) Perhaps God sent him to improve my mood, but on his way out the door another man that was leaving (a man I did not know) says to me "I like your shoes!"  I said "thanks," and then was left to wonder to myself... I thought noticing shoes was a girl thing.  I mean they weren't even cute pink shoes or fabulous Jessica Simpson platforms, just my brown Danskos.....

5) Miss Sophie returned home from the vet on Friday.  By Saturday we were once again worried because a lump had appeared below the incision.  She was acting OK, and vet was closed till Monday so we called him then.  He wanted to see her again just to check her out.  We got a mixed report..... He said if it were any other cat, that had just had surgery, he'd look at it and think, its normal, no problem.  But, with her history from the last surgery that included at least 3 pockets of infection, 2 outside, one inside, he is concerned and we are to watch her very closely.  She has to be kept quiet... as quiet and calm as one can keep a 7 month old kitten, and she has to remain separated from Sydney for about 2 weeks. We hope its just normal surgery stuff and that she will heal over the next 2 weeks.  If not... we have to do a feline leukemia test.  Cat's that have that, don't have a properly working immune system, and it would explain why she keeps having infections and not healing like normal.  I did not expect to hear this.  I held it together and remained calm at the vet.  When I got home and called Darrel... not so much.  I do not want to lose another kitten.  I do not want to lose Sophie.  I love her!  So we are trying to stay calm and positive and are praying and believing this is just normal swelling.  She will heal.  She will be fine.  No further illness.  That is what will happen right? 

6) Just spent some time making the all important baking ingredients grocery list for Christmas baking.  On the list, yes of course there is a list, for this year is.... homemade Toffee, Peanut Butter Temptations, Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies, Iced Sugar Cookies, Tiger Butter, Cake Balls... YUM.... and Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Should that not be enough to keep me busy I might also consider Snickerdoodles, Rolo Pretzels, Chex Mix, and No Bake Cookies.  The baking will commence next week!

7) A monumental event happened this evening.  ALL of the construction supplies for the bathroom finally left the dining room.  We just don't know what to do with ourselves with all this space.  Darrel thought we should move the dinning room table back where it was before he realized, we never moved it.  We just forgot what the room looks like with space.  Maybe now we should do something fun like oh.. I don't know... chase each other around the table...  ha!  I'd probably let him catch me.

8) No further smash pages have been created.  I want to do one about last Friday, date night and seeing the lights.  I want to do one about yesterday and the advent tree.  I might leave out Sat.  Sunday we did the Advent reading so I am thinking I might include that.  Today we finished decorating, and got out the snowman collection so will probably do something about that... So what's that?  Only 4 days behind.... again... I'll never make it thru December completed will I... 

9) Have you seen the new 20th Anniversary Dansko? It is SO cute.  Love the color.  LOVE the writing all over it.  Love the patent... The price?  Not so much.... maybe Santa will bring some Christmas cash huh?

10) Did I tell you Darrel and I are doing a duet this Sunday?  Did I tell you what song?  I don't remember... let's recap.  We get to sing a Christmas duet this Sunday.  Yay!  Happy about that.  The song we are working on - Christmas Makes Me Cry.  Cool song.  I love the line in the 3rd verse that says " I think of Mary, and the virgin birth, and I'm amazed at how much God thinks we are worth."  That's good stuff right there! 

Might do some smashing later tomorrow, but may not get to post again till Thursday so please tune in again!  Same bat time, Same bat station.... (please tell me someone else remembers that... or else I am really old now and no one wants that)  Blessings! 

A Smashing Christmas

Yep!  Did a little smashing today.  Good thing because I am thinking its not a good thing to get a week behind before the first week is over!  Ha! 

Started out with pages about last Monday and Tuesday, Nov, 28-29.  Had to show my pretty pink tree from my office and my new favorite pink snow girl ornament.  Are you noticing a pink girly theme here?  Yes?  Good cause I am all about pink girly stuff!

The page on the right is about a song I discovered on Monday on the radio, and by Tuesday I had been asked to sing it at church on Christmas Day.  SO happy and excited about that because I am in love with this song!  Already have the accompaniment downloaded and been working on it.  Did you know a fair amount of rehearsal happens while driving... I am sure this is how the professionals do it don't you think? 

Here is my little drawing.  Although I am secretly worried it looks like someone colored it in a coloring book... I am happy with it.  It was fun playing with my colored pencils and I like how it looks nestled down in the bottom of the page there.  When I first drew the outline I asked Darrel if Jesus' head in the straw there actually looked like the top of the head and not like someone had dropped a bowling ball in the straw.... He assured me there was no danger of that.  I also included a picture of the album cover from the song and a piece of the sheet music.  I wanted to tuck it behind something so I used my new Matha border punch to create a border strip.  Love that vintage doily look. 

Here are pages for Tuesday, yes again, and Wednesday.  Tuesday was our first snow day and the day of my adventure climbing in the car trunk and soaking my hair before I even made it work.  All adventures must of course also be documented right?  On Wednesday it was the beginning of the Advent devotional readings and we had dinner at China Wok that day.  I used the brochure about the Advent, Christ's Birthday Offering, and then a piece of the menu from China Wok.  They are the littlest place in our tiny little town but SO good.  Just did a bit of journaling about the day and added a few fun stickers.

Here is a better look at the snow page.  I had an overlay I bought I think 2 years ago from Little Yellow Bicycle.  I used that and added a few punched snowflakes and a couple of goodies from Evalicious.  Also did a clear snowflake border sticker down the left side.  And yes... pink snowflakes.  In my world all snowflakes are pink. 

Date Night!  We started out the evening thinking we were probably heading to the big city.  We weren't all excited about the idea though. It was kind of a blah day and yes... I admit it... we weren't all that happy with each other.  Yes.  It happens.  Darrel got home a little later than normal because he had to pick up Sophie from her surgery at the vet.  We ended up just talking and spending some time together at home and then went for a late supper at our favorite restaurant.... You didn't have to ask where did you?  Yes.  La Carreta and it was even more fun to share a plate of nachos at a late super on date night.  Afterwards we hit Kohl's and bought one Christmas gift and looked around a bit.  Then we drove around a bit to see the lights in the downtown area.  Pretty!  I love our little old fashioned downtown areas here in Southern Indiana at Christmas.  The decorations are pretty... and probably quite vintage.  This was a look down main street... or whatever its called... in Vincennes otherwise known as going to town... not to be confused with the big city.. remember?

Rest of the weekend was somewhat lazy.  I did get a walk in at the campground.  One camper was at his site doing some maintenance and he yelled out to me that I better slow down before I get pulled over for speeding... ha ha ha ha.... I get a kick out of them getting a kick out of me.  We kept an eye on Sophie, whom we've had to keep separated from Sydney because they play too hard.  Sydney seems lonely without her, so we took Sophie in by Sydney just to visit and it was SO cute.  Sydney put her paw over Sophie and kept licking her.... it was so sweet.  It was like there she is!  There's my sister.  Poor thing, this is the first time either of the kittens has been alone without the other since birth. 

Today we had church, and we helped a friend do the Advent reading.  We are currently trying to locate the elusive Advent reading paper which seems to have disappeared between Darrel reading the last section, and us going up to choir to sing.  I  of course need the reading for my holiday book right?

And now... it is time to head to bed so we can begin a new week!  This week will hold decorating, wrapping, and the much anticipated Christmas party!  Can't wait!  Hope your week is fabulous!  Blessings! 

Thankful Thursday

OK... I've not been the best blogger this week have I?  And here I was all set to blog more so I could keep up to date with my holiday smash book.  What happened to that plan?  I have no idea.  Not even sure where the week went... But, let's try to recap shall we?  We will call this a combo Ten on Tuesday, Thankful Thursday, Smashing Holiday post.  Works for me!

1) First snow day!  Yep.  Tuesday, by the time I was heading to work - SNOW.  Big, wet, heavy flakes were falling.  I needed my winter coat and the snow brush for the car.  Problem with this?  First one has to find the snow brush.  Second problem.  Once snow brush was located, it was in the trunk, way way far in the back.  Farther back then my arm could reach.  I am petite people, remember?  Petite... isn't that a nice word for short?  Ha!  So now, here I am, skirt, tights, pretty winter coat, getting my hair wetter and soggier by the moment from the snow, and now needing to pretty much crawl in the trunk to reach the brush.  To make this even more fun, the back of the car is of course, wet, snowy, and dirty.   I need something to lay over the wet dirty car.  The first thing I spot is a chenille shawl I keep in the car for those cold restaurants.  Did not want to get that all wet and dirty by leaning on that.  Next I spot this non slip material that Darrel lays under the tool kit in the trunk so it doesn't slide all over the place making noise when we are driving.  This should work.  So I carefully lay this over the bumper, over the trunk edge and in the trunk and then proceed to practically climb in to reach the stinkin' brush!  Finally.  Success!  Of course after all that by the time I get the car cleaned off, and head to work I look in the mirror to discover my hair that I just spent time fixing... is now totally wet and getting flatter by the moment.  I got to spend the rest of the day feeling like I looked like a drowned rat that had dried and now looked deflated, flat and a little crunchy from hair spray.  Nice mental picture right?

2) Let's talk about tights for a moment shall we?  I believe I have expressed my views before.  I love the way tights look with skirts and boots.  Therefore I wear them.  As far as liking them as far as putting them on and keeping them nice to last for more than one wearing?  Not my favorite thing.  Darrel has often heard me say as yet another pair is giving me a problem that I think we should find the guy who invented tights and beat an apology out of him..... Kidding.  Maybe.   Anyway... last year my mom told me about seeing tights on QVC by Legacy Legwear. I tried them.  They fit good.  They lasted good.  They didn't seem to self destruct for no reason.  Yay!  Happy to finally find tights I like.  The catch?  Well, QVC sells them in sets of 3 or 4 with a few other colors in the set.  I mainly use black and brown.  The sets come with like black, gray, navy, brown.  Or 2 black and a mixture of the other colors.  Well I managed to make that work sort of for last season, but have become pretty stocked up on black and gray.. but no brown.  So I head to QVC to discover guess what?  The tights are on waitlist.  Of course they are... this is how my life works lately.  And they have changed the sets so now to get a brown pair... I have to get a set of 4 that I don't need.  UNTIL I remember that one should always google what they are looking for before thinking it cannot be found.  Well score!  Found 2 pairs of brown, in my size, from Ebay, for cheaper or about the same price.  Yay!  The moral of this story?  Deanna should wear more black clothes so she can use up her stock of black tights.. and never forget to check google when looking for that elusive fashion must have...

3) Miss Sophie.  I've mentioned I love her right?  You remember she was spayed.  She got an infection.  She was on 2 different rounds of antibiotics.  She finally looked like all signs of infection were gone.  She looked healed.  We were happy and thought all was well.  Until Tuesday.  As soon as I picked her up I immediately noticed she had another swollen lump near her incision.  Not good.  She had to go back to the vet on Wednesday, had to have a 2nd surgery today, and is still at the vet for observation until we can pick her up tomorrow.  I try not to.. but I keep thinking of Jack.  I just want this infection stuff healed and gone and am praying now that she has to heal up all over again, that it will go smoothly this time.  I believe Sydney would agree with me.  This is the first time they've been separated since birth.  Miss Sydney is looking a little lonely.

4) The tree is up and decorated.  Remember my pretty pink princess ornament that Darrel got for me last year?  I cannot find her anywhere.  She wasn't in the Christmas boxes.  She wasn't anywhere else in the house I can think to look.  I have a vague memory of possibly keeping her out to hang somewhere during the year so I could enjoy her.  I cannot remember where... and I am sad.  I liked my pink princess... even if she did need a pair of cute shoes. 

5) Has anyone ever done Becky Higgins Project Life thing?  Every year about this time I keep thinking that I want to try this.  Then I talk myself out of it when I wonder if I will be able to keep up.  Then all year I see different people's blogs where they are doing all of this fabulous project life pages and I totally want to do it again.  Cannot make up my mind.  As I am typing this I am thinking Deanna... if you can't keep up with a December book... how would you keep up with that? 

6) Does your family do Advent devotions?  Darrel and I hope to do our church one together this year.  I'd really like that.  I am thinking I will also do this one that I picked up as a Kindle freebie. 

7) Got outside for a walk today.  It was much better than the slipping treadmill even though it was cold!  Had to break out the long johns today and my pretty pink hat!  It wasn't that bad and it felt good to be out in the sunshine.  I have been off my schedule lately and am finding I am getting tired easily because I am not walking as much!  Need to get back on it!  Slipping treadmill, cold temps and all.  I will not give up!

8) Was pretty much a slacker today other than that.  I should have finished the Christmas decorations, did some cleaning, did lots of laundry.  Did I do that?  Nope.  Feeling stressed and needed a break to try and find my happy place as Darrel put it.  So I read my books some.  I tried to work on my Smashing Holiday Album but could not seem to make one decision about how I wanted to place things so pretty much stared at my book and shuffled things around for a bit.  Does this count as scrapbooking? 

9) One thing I did accomplish?  A little drawing of a manger.  Yes.  2 small drawings in what 2 months?  This is quite amazing when one hasn't done much drawing in years!  I plan to use it on a page in my book about a song I get to sing on Christmas day.  Powerful, awesome song and I am very excited!  You will get to see my drawing when I share my page.  Hopefully over the weekend!

10) Did some work on my Christmas list today and discovered this cool Vera purse.  Of course then I had to alert my husband and my mother to let Santa know that I had been a good girl and I need one of those in Safari Sunset.  My mother said Santa was confused because um Mocha Rouge is PINK and he of course thought I'd want that one.  I assured her that Santa could rest assured Safari Sunset was correct since I already own a bag in Mocha Rouge and the Safari is so pretty in person.  Nice of Santa to worry about me and my quota of pink stuff isn't it? 

Well... to close this marathon novel post.. lets wrap up with a quick thankful list for the past few weeks! Been so thankful for.............

• our thanksgiving for 2
• 4 days off together over the holiday
• getting our tree up and decorated before December 1st.
• getting most of our shopping done also before December 1st.
• cold enough weather for my Dennis Basso coat!
• watching lots of Christmas movies together over the holiday weekend
• my holiday smash book
• advent devotions
• finding the Be Born In Me song
• preparing a duet for church with Darrel
• Darrel's patience. 
• Miss Sophie coming thru a 2nd surgery ok.
• a good caring veterinarian
• reading on my Kindle
• a special gift in the mail from a generous friend
• date night
• getting all my work done before the holiday
• a new pink mouse for my laptop.  the old one was driving. me. nuts.
• putting favorite ornaments on the tree
• getting the snow globes out
• my pretty pink tree
• lots of Thanksgiving left overs
• that my gravy, sweet potatoes, pies, mashed potatoes and turkey all turned out yummy on the first try!
• my husband who helps in the kitchen
• eclair cake made for me by my husband
• finding brown tights and my favorite mascara when I thought they were gone forever...
• that it is time for the weekend again!

Please tune in again soon.  I hope to be back with smashing pages..... bwa ha ha ha ha... I wonder if that will crack me up all month.  Is it a sad thing that I am that easily entertained? 

Blessings!

A Smashing PINK Holiday

No new smashing pages to share today but I of course just had to show you the first ornament to go on the tree.  Isn't she pretty?  :)  She's like a pink tutu ballerina snow person.  I love her cause she makes me smile.  Darrel bought her for me when we went to Covered Bridge in October.  She has just been waiting for this moment when she could grace our tree.  She has a prime spot, front and center, in clear view from my chair of course.  She will definitely be a part of the smashing holiday pages!

Let's see... what else occurred today?  We got out the snow globe collection.  Always a favorite Christmas activity.  As it is in most years I couldn't remember what the new snow globe was from last year, so its always a happy surprise to unwrap that one!

I finally got in a walk today.  I've been missing way too much lately between being sick and then all the thanksgiving hoopla last week.  Problem.  The belt on the treadmill keeps slipping.  At one point today it was picking up speed all on its own.  The next minute it like stops and threatens to throw you off.  Um this is scary as I begin to wonder if I am going to end up on the tile floor with a cracked head.... Plus its not so conducive to keeping a good pace.  Darrel is going to look at the belt again.  Perhaps I should write a letter to Santa.  Maybe he can fit a nice new treadmill on his sleigh for me.  Is Santa rich?  Cause those things are expensive.  I've been a pretty good girl.. .maybe... he might consider it huh? 

I got my pink tree up and decorated in my office at work.  I love that tree.  So pretty, pink, and sparkly!  I am asking myself once again how come I don't just leave it up year round.  Nothing wrong with that right? 

Been listening to WBGL on the Internet at work.  They are a radio station we used to get when we lived in Illinois.  They have switched to all Christmas music and today... this song came on.  Be Born In Me by Fancesca Battistelli.  Oh. My. Goodness.  LOVE that song.  I need to sing it!  The first line caught my attention and stopped me in my tracks..."Everything inside me cries for order, Everything inside me wants to hide..."  When I am struggling... that so describes how I feel.  As the song went on,  I realized it was about Mary, but wow.  The words are powerful.  I discovered this song is part of a CD created as part of a Bible study called "The Story."  I bought the CD thru itunes and can't wait to hear the other songs.  I ordered a free sample/info on the study and am very interested in finding out more.  Anyone done this study? 

Tune in tomorrow for Ten on Tuesday!  Blessings!

Having A Smashing Holiday

Yes, I actually did it.  I scraped... which is an amazing feat considering how much time I intend to head to the scraproom but seldom go!  I got a start on my December Daily album for this year.  However, as I mentioned, I wanted to start with Thanksgiving and probably go thru New Year's to cover our entire holiday season.  So... since I am using a smash book, I decided it would be "A Smashing Holiday."  Smashing as in fabulous... not smashing as in destroying.. bwa ha ha ha....

Well here you have a bare cover.  I haven't decided how I wanted to decorate it.  I seem to do that every year and end up finishing the cover last.  I am going to try to do better at that this year.  I left a title page, and I may do like a holiday calendar there or something, but after that I started with a 2 page spread covering Thanksgiving.  See?!

I am going for more of an old school scrapbook/journaling kind of feel so kept things a bit simple... for me anyway, and then also kind of doodled with one of the 5 copic markers I own to do the word Thanksgiving.  The holiday button is from Evalicious.  How cute are those?  The green paper top left is one of the little smash book journaling book accessories.  Did lots of journaling to remember the details from our Thanksgiving for 2. 

Here are my pages for Saturday and Sunday.  For Saturday I played with my new honeycomb stamp that I bought from Cocoa Daisy recently.  Very cool.  Will be playing with that some more. 

For Sunday I didn't have a picture but I wore my new Christmas outfit today (the black sweater and skirt with my new pink Jessica shoes.) so I saved those tags, and then grabbed a card from our favorite restaurant where we had lunch today.  Also used some smash washi tape and played with my new Martha snowflake punch.  That thing is very cool!  Today was a good day, but also stressful at parts so I basically just journaled about those things. 

It was fun "smashing" for the first time!  I am eager to continue with my book.  I have decided I will not stress and obsess about getting a page done for every single day. I just plan to do what I can and what I feel like.  By the New Year I should still have a great memory book from a Smashing Holiday!  (If you click on any of the photos above, you will get a larger version of the photo)

So how was your Sunday?  We had church and worship leading.  That was a bit stressful, but we enjoyed church and I enjoyed my pretty pink shoes!  This is the first time I wore them for any length of time and they were actually pretty comfy and very stable to walk in.  Except.. on gravel.  Do not reccomend gravel, rain, and platform shoes.  Not a good mix.  We enjoyed a nice lunch at La Carretta and then I spent the afternoon smashing... while Darrel did some woodworking projects.  Made us a little turkey salad for a late supper while we watched Amazing Race.  Darrel was very jealous of the guys that got to drive the new mustangs on the test course.  Tomorrow is back to work and we hope to finish the decorations in the evening!  I would be quite happy to have all that done before December first! 

I will be back tomorrow, or Tuesday at the latest with more Smashing!  Blessings!