The Child's Paper

The Thrill Of The Hunt...

2013-05-07T23:22:00.004-07:00

Freckles and I have been out and about the past several weeks, hitting all the local thrift shops and neighboring towns shops in the search for little treasures. Some shops have been big flops. Yet, some shops have reaped little treasures. I am only bringing little things back at this time, since Mr. Darling advised no more big things until we move. So little things it is. I love the hunt however...It is thrilling to go into a shop and sift through every little corner, sort through every little pile, and dig through every shelf. Sometimes there are winners, sometimes we leave empty handed. But when we find a little something....

Our hearts go pitter patter. I know, it probably seems silly...But we enjoy it as a little past time hobby. My recent finds will all have homes very soon, as we finally have some good news to share. Mr.Darling has been called for a year internship, which will move forward into a church plant. More about that later next week, after we visit our new area and search for a place to call home.

Today we brought home this cute little naked Kewpie...And a sugar spoon. We also found this 5 lb. rice bag. Would be cute in our kitchen or made into a pillow...We'll see what happens with that.

We also grabbed this saltine cracker tin...I love the colors. I may just use this as a cracker tin.

Makes sense, don't you think? I like using tins for what they were meant for. I wish they still made cool packaging like that with food....Nowadays it's just cheapo trash, nothing cute, nothing special.

They just don't make anything like they used to.

I also found this large, plump velvet strawberry pin keep.

It was just a couple bucks...

We have also collected some sheets and pillow cases, a handy yellow mirror, a few children's books to add to my growing collection, some votive's and Pyrex. Will share some of that another time.

When we move, it's gonna be like Christmas.

I can't wait to unpack and make a new home sweet home again. It will be mighty fine to be out on our own again, with a chance to have a whole new fresh start to our lives. My hubby will finally be doing what he loves, after the many years of schooling and Seminary.

We are so excited to get back on our feet and do the Lord's work.

Next phase: Home Hunting....That will be thrilling.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Bread....

2013-05-01T19:20:00.002-07:00

Hello to all. It has been a month since I have blogged. I've missed ya all....Sorry for the absence. Things have been a bit rocky in life the past four months....Soon to be getting better and back on or feet. We have been staying with my Hubby's brother for the last week to unwind from some personal stresses we have been enduring. It has been a good time to just pray and think about our lives and make plans for the future as the stress level has diminished while being here. Freckles and I had to scope out all the thrift shops in the surrounding area. We found a few things that would fit in well with our future home.

Little dishes and this darling orphan salt/pepper shaker.

A vintage apron for Freckles...and a long bread pan...

Which inspired a little baking. We came up with a great recipe

for very moist blueberry banana bread and wanted to share the recipe with ya all.

~Whole Wheat Banana Blueberry Banana Bread~

~3 very ripe bananas

~1/3 C. Greek vanilla or pear or plain Yogurt

( I used Chobani Pear)

~1/3 C. melted butter

3/4 C. sugar

~1 egg

~1 tsp. Vanilla ( I used pure vanilla)

~1 tsp. baking soda

~pinch of salt

~ 1 & 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

( I used King Arthur's Unbleached Whole Wheat flour)

~1/2 C. fresh blueberries

~A bit of brown sugar for sprinkling top (optional)

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees

~In a large bowl mash bananas, Greek yogurt and melted butter with spoon. Mix in sugar, eggs, and vanilla, sprinkle the baking soda and slat over mixture, blend in. Add flour, mix just enough to blend ingredients in. Lastly add in blueberries, fold in.

~Butter your bread loaf pan, pour in mixture. Bake 1 hour, until butter knife comes out clean. Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar over bread before it cools (optional)

~ Let cool on rack. Remove from pan, slice, serve & enjoy.

Hope you will love it...You won't be sorry, it is very moist and good for you too.

I promise I will return to blogging...

I am hoping to share with you a few more Home Sweet Home Tours too.

Have a Happy Day.

Happy Easter

2013-03-31T01:27:00.000-07:00

This Easter is quite different to us from the many years we have celebrated in past years. This is the first year our little family is apart from one another. With our son now living in Washington, my hubby, flew up to Washington for some pulpit filling (preaching for other churches) and temporary work. Not only will he be away for Easter, he will also miss our anniversary which is just a few days away...He will return just in time for my birthday in April. It's just me and Freckles this year... My other family members don't attend church, so it will just be the two of us for the day. I made sure that my daughter still got to enjoy a few of our favorite traditions and tried to give her a sense of comfort since we are not in our own home....
One was giving her an Easter Basket of course.

A few treats and a couple fun surprises gave her smiles. We colored Easter eggs...This year we did it a bit different...instead of dunking our eggs in dye, we poured vinegar on each egg then dropped a few drops of color on each egg inside a colander, we swirled it around until each egg was covered, then placed it on a paper towel until dry...This gave our eggs the deepest most vibrant colors. It was so messy...we used rubber gloves to do it...If we hadn't, our hand would have been dyed for days.

I also made a special little morning treat, which we
will have in the morning before church.
I found this fun recipe on a blog called
The Italian Dish...Italian Easter Bread
It will pair nicely with a nice cup of tea...and there is a little egg involved
in this delightful sweet bread. Yum.
We will be missing our guy's something terrible...
Yet, I thank God I have my sweet girl to spend it with.
I pray you and yours will have a blessed Easter Sunday with your loved ones...
As you reflect on what Christ has done for you...

Springtime Freckles...

2013-03-27T03:04:00.000-07:00

It's Spring here...Thought perhaps I should whip up some little pieces of art for the shop. I was inspired by all the Easter candy in the stores right now...Not to mention my daughter herself. When the sun is out and the weather is warm, her freckles stand out even more...I have always loved freckles...and she gets them on her nose and cheeks. So, of course these little dollies had to have some Springtime Freckles on their cheeks and noses.

I even added some paper hats and other paper embellishments...
they are all ready for Springtime festivities.

These little gals will be added in my shop shortly. If you are interested before I list them...
Let me know which girl you would like to adopt.
They are $30.00 + $5.00 s/h.
Happy Spring!!!

Happy Kitschy Kitchen Finds...

2013-03-20T00:41:00.002-07:00

Spring is in the air. I am looking forward to Springtime this year...Everything comes back to life, the flowers bloom and the colors of God's creation shines through. We are still in limbo regarding our future, jobs, home etc... I am trying so hard to be content and know that God is preparing a future place for us somewhere. Not having a place of our own is very hard on us...especially our daughter. I pray that we will soon get to settle in a new nest soon, so that we can get back to our normal routines in our very own place. Yet, we don't have a place, I am still collecting little treasures for our home. I know I probably shouldn't be adding to the things we already have to move....But, I just can't pass up the happy treasures I run into.

I was thrilled beyond mention when I ran found this lovely robins egg blue cake stand, the crazed yellow and creamy striped bowl and another winky cup to add to my growing collection. Wouldn't it make you smile if you saw this gal smiling at you on a shelf.

I did the happy dance right there in the isle.

Another shopping spree venture with my mom, led us to these happy plates in red,

yellow and blue.....just perfect for my kitchen...

The colors are just right.

they are cheery and bright...

Can't wait to use them.

Lastly, I found this huge pepper shaker...I loved him...

Though he did not have his pair (salt) it didn't matter.

I still adopted him anyway. I have several orphaned shakers with no mate...

It will be loved in my home.

Well, that's all I got...

Hope you all are having a great week.

Blooming Idea...

2013-03-14T11:59:00.002-07:00

We went to World Market a few weeks back and treated ourselves to some fun sodas. The sweet bottles alone were just fabulous. I love the vintage style labels on these....If you know me or have been reading for a few years, you know how much I love fun containers such as these to put flowers inside. I knew these whimsical bottles would be a great addition to my little collection.

What to do with them?
Put some colorful blooms in each, of course.
So fun, it adds brilliant color to your day.

When not in use...They would be a delight to the eye,
displayed in a glass or open cupboard.
If you can't find these, let me know, I can pick them up at
World Market for a small fee plus shipping.
Have a Blooming Day.

The Days Leading Up....

2013-03-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

The days leading up to our son flying off into the sunset alone...were a bit heart wrenching for me. I so badly wanted to make these last days with him memorable. Yet, in the circumstances we are in at this time, with no home and little privacy, it wasn't what we dreamt of. We made the best of it, spending a weekend with good friends and taking him out a couple times alone. We prayed with him and gave him all the advice we could possibly muster. With lot's of hugs and kisses. Most of all we wanted to be sure he spent some quality time with his little sister....whom is quite distraught over his moving away. Since he has been gone, which is just about a month now....She has broken down in tears, because he is not here when we need him the most. I will admit I have have broken down as well, for a couple days...I had an anxiety attack...I could only feel my heart in my throat as it sank into the pits of my stomach.

I am sad though. so sad, my heart goes into my throat and chokes me, then it falls into my stomach where it aches me to tears. Yet, there is also so much joy, and I am so proud of the young man he has become. I am thankful to God for entrusting us with this wonderful boy...The Lord blessed us beyond measure....We did our best, raising him up, giving him a firm foundation to stand on and a faith he can always lean on. Yet, I will never forget his sweet little baby face looking up at me...He grew up too fast. I miss him so much when we are apart.

Leaving him in that airport, was truly one of the hardest things to do...Just knowing he is going his own way and he is further away then we ever anticipated. I know that he is not gone forever...He has been so sweet in fact, that he has called us every night to tell us goodnight and he loves us. The hard part for me I suppose...is the timing, him growing up so fast and being apart. It also breaks my heart to see my little girl who looks up to her big brother more than he will ever know, shedding crocodile tears over his leaving. She is still going through so much as it is with whats going on in our family, let alone her puberty. These are the times she could really use her big brother to be here...for her.

I am trying...trying so hard to swallow and breathe deep....With a lot of prayer and confidence, I know he is in good hands, he will be fine and he will be a wonderful servant. This is the last image I saw of him before he got on his plane.....ugggggh! Tears of sadness, tears of joy. I know he is alright...And I know I am going to have to be.
I miss him.

My Children...

2013-02-19T01:44:00.000-08:00

My blog has been quiet here the last couple weeks due to a number of things...One specific reason is we have been spending these past days with our boy before his big move to Washington. The days flew by so fast. Just as the days since my children were born. You never really know how time passes quickly until you have children. My only advice is to cherish those days while they are still at home.

We only have one day left with him before he flies away...My heart is in my throat just thinking about it. I knew I needed to pull out my camera and snap some shots of my children together before the big day arrives. It made this Mama proud to see them together. My babies were six years apart...We will still have Freckles at home for some time....Which I am grateful for...It makes things a little easier...I only said, a little. Before you know it or shall I say,

before I know it my little girl will fly away someday too....

I am so not ready for this empty nest thing.

I'm so glad we took these sweet pictures...To remember them together as kids. Before he goes off into adulthood...and in the future he will get married and have his own little family. Though in my heart, he will always be my baby boy, they will always be my kids...no matter how old they get or where they are in life. I cherish and will cherish every moment of them.

I still can't believe my kids are going to be apart...They love each other. Freckles adores her big brother...This will be the hardest part for her....Being apart from him for long duration's. Though there are times where it seems she is utterly annoyed with him...She holds him close in her heart and treasures him more than he knows. Well I am off for now...Wednesday morning is going to be the toughest day ever...

Happy Weekend

2013-02-09T21:07:00.002-08:00

This weekend Freckles and I went out on the town, hitting the little thrift shops in the area.

Lets just say, it was a good thrifting weekend..

We also found this big wall of graffiti, so we had to stop for a picture, I think I'll take both my kids back for a little photo shoot. I love the colorful, funkiness it adds.

I love the hunt for little treasures...We went up and down every isle, sorting through,

digging in and searching for the things we know we like.

I was happy to find a whole lot of vintage hot pads in one shop...

They were 50% off...I left paying about $5.00 for all nine. In another shop we found this sweet embroidered linen dish cloth...all that work and never used...Another 50% off item...at $3..

I was thrilled.

This little sweetie sat lonely on a shelf...no matching mate...I knew I had to have her for my little kitschy salt and pepper collection...I have a few other orphans packed away. She will fit in just fine. Isn't she the cutest sweet pea you've ever seen? I found a few more things which I will share later...I just didn't get pictures of them yet.

Last week we went out thrifting as well....I found this lovely quilt top...Full of happy colors, yet needs to be either finished our used in a project. I am thinking about maybe using it to recover a chair...we'll see when the time comes. It was cheap, so of course I had to snag it.

I also found this little red velvet character...perfect for Valentines....He was just a coupe bucks...

And I couldn't resist those big eyes looking at me.

lastly we grabbed this View~Master...It brought me back to my childhood. We don't have any reels for it...But I found this site where you can have your pictures made into reels for these little machines...They are a bit pricey... but, I think it would make a great coffee table conversation piece.

Check it out here.

Hope your having a

Happy Weekend...

Hello

2013-02-02T01:45:00.006-08:00

HELLO.....
I finally pulled out the sewing machine this week...I made a few pillows. Which is a good jump start to my lost creative spark. I made this sweet, happy pillow for my little writer....Freckles has been writing some short story book series all on her vintage typewriter she got for her birthday last year. She loves it so much, I thought....The pillow would be perfect for her... Unfortunately she has been really under the weather this week with yet another flu...She was supposed to spend a nice get away week with her bestie, when suddenly, everyone got sick...We had to pick her up only a couple days into her visit...Now we are thinking she might have strep throat too...so we are going to the doctors to get it checked out. Since she has been home she has been very lethargic, sleeping a lot and plain ole miserable...Hopefully she will soon be on the mend and back to writing/typing away.

Well anyway, the pillow did cheer her up a bit....And it looks darling on her bed....Rory, her owl agrees. I decided to offer this pillow as a special order for anyone who is interested. I will also be listing it on Etsy as a made to order pillow for $25.00 & $5.00 shipping. Fabric colors and prints will vary or you may give me a color pallet request. Anyone interested,
please e-mail me at garboodles@gmail.com.

I also made two wool pillows with red wool hearts and a funky house pillow....These will be listed on Etsy this weekend. Now hopefully I will get some of my mojo back and create some more goodies....Here's to a good weekend. Cheers.

Start Creating Already....

2013-01-26T01:35:00.001-08:00

This week I finally got out my craft/fabric boxes from my parents garage, hoping I would find some inspiration in my stash.... thinking, what I want to create. I have several things in my head all at once and now I don't even know where to begin. Now the weekend is upon us and I still haven't started sewing the couple things I had laid out....I am hoping over the weekend I will find some umphhh within to just do it and start creating already.

Freckles will be staying with our friends for the next week as well, which I hope to take full advantage of and work on some of these projects brewing in my head...While she is having the time of her life with her friends. She so deserves this time away...Since she hasn't seen her friends in weeks and she's been cooped up here, with not a whole lot to do. Then I won't feel as guilty if I am devoting time away sewing...I can sew to my little hearts content. Now, it's just a matter of actually doing it, especially after being in such a funk lately.

I just got to let it all out and "Start Creating Already"...No more procrastinating.
Let's see what I can come up with and hopefully
I will even have something to share with you all.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Little Things

2013-01-22T01:28:00.001-08:00

Hello friends, it's another week, another Monday...How are you? Sorry I have not been posting much...I just aint got notin'. I am trying to find inspiration to begin on new art pieces...I am really digging deep, and have some ideas in my mind...it's getting h
them out that's the problem. Aside from that....Freckles and I have gotten out a bit ti find some little things from thrift shops around town....We didn't find much...
But still had a good time together, as we always do.

I love that she likes to thrift shop with me.....Anyhoo....
I was pleased to find this cute red and white potholder
for a whopping 75 cents...Can't
wait to add it to my collection in my new
future kitchen ( where ever that may be)

Another fun little thing we found was the old thermos...It is in orange and brown...the inside was broken, so I removed the insides and decided to use it for Freckles pens~markers and pencils on her work area...Cute,functional and just perfect for my little write. In the Spring & Summer it just may have to hold a little bouquet of flowers. She loves it...And oh so cute, coupled with her darling vintage typewriter she got from her Gramma last year for her birthday.

Lastly this darling little thing awaited to be adopted for just a $1.50....He is adorable...He loves books, just like Freckles. So we brought him home. So, we didn't find anything realllllly spectacular, but sometimes it's the little things that brighten up ones day...and these little things did just that and didn't break the budget. Hope y'all are having a great week...Sorry to my regular readers and favorite blogs for not coming by lately...and leaving some love...I hope to get back to reading your blogs as soon as I get a better regiment to my day started. Hugs to you all. Have a blessed week.

Nostalgic Americana History ~ The First McDonald's

2013-01-19T01:46:00.000-08:00

So, my daughter (Freckles) and I went out today to hit a few thrift shops in town....We have passed by this old McDonald's building a few times before and decided as we passed by....Why not stop and check it out. Come to find out it was a little run down museum...But the first McDonald's location on the old route 66 here in San Bernardino California.

I am always up for a bit of history in any town I live in...So this was right up our alley. The Museum itself was perhaps a little bit of a disappointment, but was still fun to look at all the old doo dads and memorabilia, which brought me back to my own childhood memories of going to McDonald's and playing on the old metal hamburgers and the big hamburger guy below....
Freckles was a good sport about letting me take a few snapshots of her playing around on the old play place stuff... I love that girl...She can be such a goof. Hey, remember the Fry Kids????
I soaked it all up in just 20 minutes...
It was fun...Even though the place was a bit dinky,
it's still a part of some really cool Americana history.

It was a good day spent with my girl and we still browsed through
a couple thrift shops and found a couple little treasures.
Have a great weekend y'all.
Hope this brings back memories for some of you.

The One Who Will Fly From The Cuckoos Nest...

2013-01-15T14:34:00.001-08:00

They have been friends for some time now, spent a lot of time together
as friends, then it grew into something more. She came to visit, they had more time together, he spent time with her family, she spent time with ours. They love the Lord and want Him to be a big part in this growing relationship. He is now courting this young lady, we are thrilled.

We have been counseling him in what the best would be for him, his future, his education and his relationship and have decided with the firm foundation we raised him with, it would be good for him to move on, get his education where he had originally wanted to go, get a little job and grow his relationship with this lovely girl.....What does all this mean?

He would be leaving home.
Yes, my baby boy will be leaving the state to pursue his dreams in music/teaching and writing film scores. This was not an easy decision mind you...Yes, my heart sinks just thinking about it. I am only torn because I would miss him being HERE...that would be the most difficult part that I would have to deal with... But, for the last couple of years he has expressed where he wanted to go to pursue his education. We have gone back and forth with it for the last year, and have come to the conclusion that he would be better off getting his education where it would best fit his needs...since we ourselves don't even know where we are going nor do we know how long until my husband finds a call. And, we didn't want to hold up our son's education...So we had a family counseling meeting...and made the final decision. I will spare you with the details of the final plan though.

He got his plane ticket and will be flying from our Cuckoos nest later next month.
And from there he will also be able to spend more time with his darling girlfriend.
Are they not the sweetest pair?
I will keep y'all posted on his endeavors and adventures when that time comes...
Please pray for him.

Looking Back....

2013-01-14T15:19:00.002-08:00

First I want to start off by thanking each one of you who kindly stopped by and left the sweetest encouraging comments over the weekend. Each one, each thought and each prayer is a blessing to me which I appreciate with all my heart. Thank you.
***
As the New Year recently rang in just a short couple of weeks
ago. I wanted to reflect on the past year we had...I looked back into my past year of posts, which is always fun to do. Seeing my kids grow up before my eyes, the comings, the goings the changes...
the good times, the hard times and blessed by what is to come. I don't know what is to come at this moment....Yet overwhelmed by the now of not knowing, yet trying to be content...Then the BIG changes in our family life...Which I promise to share very soon. There are moments of sadness and tears that flow...yet the reassurance in my faith that God has it all under control.
He has a great plan for all of us. This last year was filled with many blessings and true friendships were sown into our life...Our faith has only grown stronger through the hard times and the hurdles we currently have to overcome now will grow us even more. I pray not only our lives will be better in this New Year 2013...But that your lives will be filled with goodness, love and laughter..
Here's to a wonderful New Year ahead.....

Still Here

2013-01-11T01:29:00.000-08:00

Hello, I am back.... Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year...
Sorry I have not been blogging lately.. it has been a rough beginning for my family. As you all know we moved out of our place to stay with my Mom for a while until my hubby finds a calling in ministry. We tried to settle in best we could...among my Gramma being very ill, my mom falling and breaking her shoulder completely, my Gramma going back into the hospital due to her illness, trying to adjust to the way others live and trying to find our own normalcy.

My dear Freckles and I have also been sick for the last week and a half with a bad cold...We also attempted to start back up our home school routine and morning tea with Bible. We are ever so grateful for my parents taking us in....Yet, there is and will always be a yearning inside me for our own home.

This New Year I plan on doing my artwork as much as possible, to keep my mind on other things, to spend lot's of quality time with my kids...For now it looks like our boy will be heading out on his own sooner than we thought. More on that another time. For now we are just trying to figure out how God wants to use us. One thing is for certain I am learning more about having a servants heart and being content and leaning not on my own understanding but, on His.
Please keep my family in prayer...

Happy New Year 2013

2013-01-02T22:45:00.002-08:00

Here's to a wonderful
NEW YEAR
ahead.

Christmas Was Had...

2012-12-26T21:13:00.001-08:00

We had a long first week at Gramma's House...settling in after our hectic move....My mom had to go to the emergency room as my Gramma was just getting out, so we have been taking care of two people that are practically out of commission. This Christmas came so fast and it flew by just as quickly as it came. It really is quite a blur. We tried to fit in some baking...with cookies &
fudge and cheesecake mini's..

We also made our famous Latvian Perogies with Gramma...She makes it all from scratch...and puts it all together without a recipe. Trust me this year, I watched carefully so I know everything she does with her secret dough...It's embedded now... This has been a traditional food in our family for as long as I can remember. They are so yummy.

Freckles and I did a couple little crafty things as well. We played with wool. She made this adorable little Hedgie with a red bow on her head. Crafting with wool is quite addictive.
I made her a little owl and a snowman...not pictured.

Maestro and Freckles were a great help to their Great Gramma for Christmas dinner. They were in the kitchen for hours preparing the feast. Thank you to my kids for having such a sweet servants heart...We couldn't have had the feast without them and that is the truth.

The day after Christmas was a dreary dark day...We are hanging low, trying to unwind from all the stuff going on right now. I am surely praying for a better year ahead.

I leave you with my favorite picture of the day...My sweet Freckles
Have a happy week ahead as you prepare for the coming New Year festivities.
XOXO

Merry Christmas

2012-12-24T11:37:00.001-08:00

From our family to yours.

Vivian's Home Sweet Home Tour...Christmas Home....

2012-12-19T22:29:00.000-08:00

Welcome my special bloggy friend Viv from

Viv out On A Whim

She is a very creative gal and one of my longest pals from my bloggy years even before I started blogging here...We met through my Garb-oodles blog many years ago. Please give a warm welcome to Viv sweet comment, go by and take a gander at her whimsies and such. She is sharing her home sweet home in Christmas style...Without further ado...

****

Good Morning!

Mica has asked me to share my Christmas home sweet home with you. It just so happens, that I took a bunch of pics the other morning to share on my blog, so I'm ahead of the game and don't have to start from scratch!

The hardest part is deciding which of the 50 or
so shots to share!

I guess we'll start at the beginning!

Our house is very small! but it is kind of cute and cozy! I love to create and decorate. Every new holiday or season is a reason to dig out bin after bin and spend day after day setting cute little collections out and tweaking them all
until they are just so!

Our tree is a small twiggy woodsy type tree. We've always had a bigger fresh cut tree, but since the arrival of a new family member, (my grandmothers parrot) there is no longer room for the tree we were used to having. but this tree is sweet enough, and like most mothers, it is full of ornaments made by my children...( oh so long ago!)

In every corner of my house you will find some little bit of Christmas and more small Christmas trees! I sometimes wish I was a minimalist.. I love the look of a white room with fresh greens and just a few accent pieces.. I love it, but I'm just not capable of it!

There is something Christmasy everywhere! Even the bears dress up for the holiday!

I have been blessed with lots of artsy friends, many of which I've met here in blogland, and I have received lots of special ornaments in swaps that I have on trees through out my house including some from Mica!

Thank you Mica!!

These shelves above are one of my favorite areas to decorate. I love little things and I love to mix old and new together. I need more vintage Christmas things though.. yes, I'm sure I have a little more room! lol!

I used to make a santa claus every year, but haven't done so in a few.. I always seem to run out of time! soooo many ideas living in my head..I can never seem to get to them all!
But I have fun trying!

My kitchen is packed full of bright and cheerful things. I love turning on all the little lights and candles and sitting in there sipping hot tea and eating Christmas cookies!

Speaking of Christmas cookies..
I need to make some!
SOON!!
I need a fairy god mother!

This little guy plays peek aboo over my sink. Isn't he adorable? It would be great if he made the cookies while I was at work today! (if only!!)
I love those mini little evergreen trees behind him. I buy them every year and after Christmas they always die... I wonder if I can plant them outside!?

Happy little snowmen faces.. and a little old elf climbing up a garland trying to keep safe from figgy and frannie I bet! (my kitties for those of you that don't know me)

Gosh!! Christmas is one week from today! You won't be reading this til tomorrow so by then, it'll be less then a week! I still have a few things to pick up.. gift cards mostly..
and groceries.

Every year, We host Christmas Eve here for our family and two other families, our closest friends. (They wont be eating these cupcakes though.. since they are made from plaster and spackling!) Always crowded but fun!! My family of 6 has turned into a family of 14 in the last couple years!! woohoo!
that's 14 stockings to fill Santa!

yeah, we cant all sit here! lol!
I love to collect lori mitchell figures. I think she should come out with a little nativity set!!
I'm going to email her and tell her that!
♥
Now you are entering my disasterous craft room! I didn't clean it up before taking pictures.. it is almost always a mess.. I am a messy creator!

There are a couple other rooms I have decorated, but not enough to bother showing you..
I love Christmas, and though I do get caught up in all the hustle and bustle and the spending and decorating.. and santa and his elves, the baking and cooking and all that jazz...

I do know the real reason for the season and that is always present in my heart.
Happy Birthday and thank you JESUS.
And thank you Mica for asking me to share
my little home sweet home.
I hope you enjoyed!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Oh Happy Day...

2012-12-17T00:39:00.002-08:00

Just a few weeks back I was reading my friend Viv's blog and saw her sweet ornaments she was doing a swap. I was smitten with her little reindeer ornaments...Oh my. Viv is a very talented gal i have known for many years through blogging...The sweetest soul and so very giving. Last year she gifted me with a little wool reindeer I also fell in love with. I will always cherish these sweet little whimsies from her. In return i made her an ornament which I meant to share, but leave it to me I boxed it up forgetting to take a picture of it. Duh.... So for now I will share with you the
sweet little ornaments she sent me....
Sweet, simple and so stinkin' cute.
*******
My heart melted when I received it last week right before our move.
I love the little red nose she added...And I can't wait to hang it on my tree next year.
She sent this little guy too...How sweet is that?
Perfect little addition to my snowman collection.
Oh Happy Day, it really made my day...It made my week in fact. Isn't it just simply sweet?
Hope you all have a happy day. We are now settling into our temporary spot at my mom's.
Making our Christmas plans.
****

Happy St. Lucia's Day

2012-12-13T00:02:00.000-08:00

Morning Stuff

2012-12-12T02:07:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a hot cup of sea salted caramel cocoa in a Christmas mug on a rainy morning. Starting my day off with this and finishing up the packing of our house. Just two more days until the move. I am so tired...I realized I am sort of like a closet hoarder.
But you would be proud to know I got rid of a ton of ~~junk~~ ... Stuff....
And was able to bless people in my community with our old clothes and other things through
Freecycle and donating stuff to our favorite Thrift Shops.

Speaking of Thrift Shops...I found this little Santa...The cutest one I have seen in a long time...He was just 50. cents. You bet I scooped him up, lickety split. He is about to be packed away though.
Poor dear.

I even put out a little sparkly Christmas tree just for a day with presents in my entryway. So there you go...Our last Christmas in this home...in a day....And no, we did not open the gifts early...Even though this girl wants to see it all like, right now. Ha...Sorry sweet Freckles
your going to have to wait 12 more days.

Twelve more days?
I can't believe it. Before we know it,
it's going to be New Years...
2013...
Akkk. Time is sure flying.
See you here in a couple days.
have a fantastic remainder of this week.

So Long Little Gnome..

2012-12-11T18:06:00.000-08:00

Remember last week I introduced you to our little house guest, Cedric the Gnome a few posts down? Well, he is off to his next destination after a week visiting us in California. It was pretty quiet around here since we have been up to our ears with packing for our move. Unfortunately Cedric didn't get to see a lot of our state.. He had the chance to visit our little busy elves. It was a short visit with those guy's though, I couldn't send Cedric off to his new destination after being with my mischevious elves...Cedric has to be a good gnome for his future hosts, the last thing they need is some naughty gnome getting into their things or playing pranks on them.

He also met up with the Great Father Christmas himself before leaving. He told St. Nick what he wished for Christmas, since he will be just in time to his new hosts home to spend Christmas with them. I hope he gets what he asked for. He has been quite a good Gnome after all.

And one last kiss from his little friend who happened to have a little crush on him...
Notice how pink Cedric's cheeks are. I think he's blushing Ha Ha Ha.

So glad we had him here though his stay was short yet, sweet.
He was a very pleasant guest indeed.
Hope you having a great week so far. I am off to pack more boxes.
Yippee

Order Up...

2012-12-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

One more week of packing up the house and shipping out the orders for Mr. Joe & Joy Jangles Snowman Couples. I am thrilled to say I sold one couple and got an order for another pair.
So I decided to make one more couple before our move....and that will be it...
Then I will be working every night as a
Christmas Elf
making Christmas gifties for my family.

Even though I am leading a busy, hectic life at the moment, trying to get everything in order for our move, I have found a bit of time to make these dolls into the late nights. It actually feels pretty darn good to be sewing and listening to old Christmas records.. I am also sending out a little ornie to my pal Viv...we are doing an ornie swap together. But, I can't show you what I am sending yet,
due to the fact she has not gotten it and I can't spoil the surprise.
So later in the week I will reveal what I sent
and what cute goodness she sent me.

Now just to finish up the last details of the snowmen couples...
And get them shipped off...
Just in time for Christmas.
I also want to give thanks to God above, for the opportunity given to me,
to make some special orders this Christmas season.,
which helps going towards some Christmas goodies for my kids this year.

Wishing you all a happy week ahead. I may be silent over here as the
big moving day is fast approaching and I have so much to do in so little time.
See ya soon!