ink

the last kit.

in case you haven't heard the news, scrapologie's last kit debuted earlier this month, and the design team gallery debuted christmas day.  if you are a scrapologie subber, or hang around their message boards at all, you know that ranjini has decided to take the kit club in a different direction.  she is an incredibly creative and talented lady -- and i know her next venture will be successful.

as for me, i will miss working with her talented design team, all of whom have become great friends over the past years.  i will miss ranjini's glorious kits arriving at my doorstep each month.  i will miss those i've gotten to know on the mb, and seeing the kit pages posted in the gallery.

here are 2 of my last projects (one more to be posted as soon as i can consolodate it as it is a mini book) --

you can see the rest of the design team's beautiful creations here -- www.scrapologie.com.

good friday morning, everyone. 

i miss my dad.

i found this today while reading carrie colbert's blog.

“My First Christmas In Heaven”

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear,

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

I hear the many Christmas songs, that people hold so dear.

But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it’s beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see pain inside your heart.

But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me, loved ones, you know I hold you dear,

And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I send you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, Love is a gift, more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other as our Father said to do.

For I can’t count the blessings or love He has for you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,

Remember, I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

- Wanda Bencke

gosh, i miss him.

4 days left...

... and i'm finally ready to start making christmas cookies!  sure, i welcomed december in by baking a couple of batches of things here and there, but nothing really christmassy. 

today anna has a playdate with a friend from school.  i'm hoping to get a little laundry done (read: a LOT of laundry done!) and have the girls help me with a little baking.  we'll probably make some chocolate crinkles (recipe here) and some sugar cookies.  there's actually a little story behind the sugar cookie recipe and why i cannot share it, but i'll save that for another time.  ;)

so if you're inclined, would you link me to your favorite christmas recipes, please?  i would love to try a few new ones this year!  after all... there are 4 days left!

happy friday!

6 more days.

we've been counting down for the past 19 days.  shopping is done.  tree is trimmed.  we visited santa, rode the carousel downtown and went out to dinner at pf chang's (an "annual tradition" for the past two years), and last weekend anna and i went to the nutcracker with some friends.  nothing left to do these next couple of days but visit with friends, make cookies for santa claus, and read and re-read the christmas story. :)

happy (almost) christmas!

this and that.

a couple of thing:

• we got our christmas tree this weekend.  it's the biggest one yet -- 8.5' and about half the width of our living room... don't ask! ;)
• our laundry room is finished!  i'm patching some holes today and hope to 'touch up paint' tomorrow.  photos to come.
• i'm not anywhere close to being finished with my christmas shopping. 
• my christmas cards are addressed, stuffed and ready to go as soon as the rest of my christmas stamps arrive (hopefully today!).
• it's not too late!  if you order your christmas cards in the next couple of days, you'll have them in plenty of time to get them out before christmas.  www.bluedresspress.com.

happy monday! :) 

i'm giddy with anticipation.

i'm getting a sink in my laundry room! what? boring, you say? well, have you ever tried hauling buckets of bleach water through your bedroom and down the hall to the laundry room without spilling? it's not easy, believe me!

our handman comes today to do the installing. he's installing cabinets, too. now seriously, people, can you see why i'm all a-twitter?!

in other news, i started a christmas tradition album. it's my favorite kind of mini album -- one photo/page + journaling. not a lot of extras, just pieces that go together to make it all super easy and uniform.  i'm a big fan of the simple mini album.  i'll post pictures when it's complete.

and finally, at some point today i really must get out to the garage and check on our emergency supplies. the wind and rain has been pelting us for two days now! i'm amazed out christmas lights haven't been blown off yet.

stay warm! happy tuesday!