2011....all things are possible!

It's a brand new year and I am making a brand new start.  I am clearing out 2010 and putting it behind me.  There were many wonderful things that happened in 2010. The biggest for me was being in the band.  It started out as something small and grew into a very large part of my life.  I even have a blog dedicated to it:  stephaniesbandblog.blogspot.com .  I learned a lot and had so much fun.  There were so many fun shows that it's hard to point to a favorite.  We played for 2 county fairs and 1 festival.  We played for many wineries and out door venues like "music in the park".  We also played for private parties and those are always fun.  Of course there are the restaurant/bar/pub shows that are also a blast.  We are looking forward to an even better year and it's already shaping up!

Another big thing is that my son moved to Seattle.   It was a really hard and harsh reality for him and he learned so much.  He changed a lot and all of it for the better.  He is smarter and stronger and in a really good place right now.  I'm so happy for him.  

My home based Isagenix business has been a steady source of income and I am so grateful for that.  I look forward to putting even more effort in to that in 2011.  And, of course, the Isagenix program has kept me healthy and happy all year....I can't even imagine life without it.  It has given me the energy and health that has allowed me to do all the things that I wanted to do.  

I finished out 2010 with a surgery that I was not expecting.  I had to have my gallbladder removed.  I was super sad because I had to miss our New Year's show that I was soooo looking forward to, but it could not be helped.  Darn.  The surgery was a week ago today and I am feeling pretty close to normal.  Wow.  That's amazing.  I am grateful for modern medicine and all those wonderful medical professionals that are there to take care of us when we need them.  And, I am grateful for Isagenix, which I am certain had a big part in my speedy recovery.  

So, now, it's time to look forward.  I have put together my new vision board and I'm still adding to it.  It sits on the wall opposite my desk, so I can see it all the time.  It has really changed my thinking.  It's pretty much my mission statement in "images".  

I have lots of goals for 2010 and I have a feeling it's going to be a really great year.   

How about you?

a few of my favorite things....

I love Christmas!  It's such a wonderful time.  And, I love all the decorations too.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite Christmas items with you. 

This is something new that I added this year.  I love having a table runner and I found this PERFECT one at a thrift store for just a couple bucks!  The best part is the bullion fringe...which of course you can't see because it's hanging down.....but "I" know it's there!

I have lots and lots of favorite things here...including my Christmas dishes, of course!

This beautiful Waterford crystal bowl was a gift from a company that worked for many years ago.  They sometimes gave some 'lame' gifts and sometimes they gave fabulous ones...this one is one of my favorites!

These candlesticks are my Mother in Laws.  She gave them to me to put out for Christmas dinner a few years ago and we have used them every year since.  

I don't know what it is about this box.  I loved it the minute I saw it in an art gallery.  Hubby went back and got it for me and it's been one of my treasures ever since.  And, I can change it to match any decor by putting something else inside it.

This little birdie is new.  A gift from a friend.  This is something that I would not have bought for myself.  It's a little teapot and she knows that I like teapots.   Even though it doesn't look like something I would pick out....I have really fallen in love with it.  It just goes with EVERYTHING.  Thanks to my dear friend. 

Tom & Jerry.  This was just like one my Grandma had.  Every Christmas they served Tom & Jerry drinks in cups like these.  I loved that drink!  When I went to visit as an adult and they gave me my drink...something was horribly wrong with it!!  I never knew that it was a booze drink!!  As a kid, we had just the sweet mix.  The booze ruined it....ha ha.  I had my Grandma's Egg Nog bowl and cups, but the bowl somehow got broken.  I still have the cups and I'm always looking for the exact bowl to match.  

My baby....he's 23 now...made these in kindergarten.  I don't save all my kids art projects, but I always liked these lights.  So, they go up in the same place every year.  

This ornament in the middle was a gift from a friend.  It's so pretty that it has to be one of my favorites!

Of course the fireplace is one of my favorites all year!

I always put out these 3 nutcrakers in the same place every year.  Way back when my kids were little, we decided that tv was a bad influence and when the lightning took out our antenna that was at the top of a tall pine tree (that is how we did it way out here in the country!!  before satellite!)...we just didn't have tv at all.  So, they missed out on all the latest shows and....the commercials.  When I asked my little boy what he wanted for Christmas, he would only say a "nutcracker".  No toys, nothing.  I used to have to show him a Sears catalog so he would see what was out there!  Of course, we got him Nutcracracker, it's the one in the middle.  The arm is broken and it's been played with a lot!  The other two were the next couple of years until he grew out of it.  Seeing these always takes me back to those innocent days. 

When I started switching out all my decor for Christmas, I found I was missing all my family pictures.  So, last year I found all of our Christmas card pictures.  We used to take one every year with our kids. I framed them and you can see them all grow up in an instant right here.

This little violin was something we added when our son brought his family home for Christmas after missing it for a few years.  I remember our granddaughters just loving it!!  When you tap the strings with the bow, it plays a Christmas song.  They were so excited to find out that they could play the violin!! He he.

These towels are a gift from my BFF.  Whenever we visit each other, we bring a gift.  All of the gifts that she has given me are my favorite things!!  I just love these towels!  They really perk up this corner of my kitchen!  And, she chose them just for this spot!

Whew.  Time to rest!  This is really Pookie's spot.  Sparky just took over and they are both willing to put up with each other for a place on Dad's lap. 

Are you ready for Christmas?

Thanksgiving...then Christmas

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  My Dear Daughter prepared the turkey and pretty much most of the meal at her house.  It smelled WONDERUL in there!!  

I did my part.  I made yummy sweet potato casserole.  I'm not the best cook.  I would rather set the table!

And when it was all over, it was time for the transition to Christmas!!  One year as I was putting away my Christmas decorations, it just seemed so bare.  All I did when I decorated for Christmas was to add a few little knick knacks here and there and when I put them away, it just seemed so blah.  Sooooo.....

I had the idea of packing away all my normal decorations and only put out Christmas ones.  It's a chore, but it's worth it to me.  And, hubby.  One year, I told him I wasn't going to go "all out" with the Christmas decorations and he got all "sad" on me.  So, now I know who I'm decorating for!

And, he helps!  We keep all this stuff in the attic.  I unpack Christmas and pack the everyday stuff in those same boxes.

And there are a LOT of them!

I figured out that I should always save the boxes that things come in for packing and storing.

 I always wanted Christmas dishes.  I got these a few years ago from Kmart.  They were super affordable and I just love them.  After Christmas that year I went back and bought more at a huge discount.  So, now I have extra in the cupboard and at Christmas dinner I don't have to take these down to eat on!

And of course the fireplace.  All ready for Santa!

That's it for now....more to come!!  Are you all ready for Christmas?

Here's another one...

Yep..another giveaway!  This pretty reindeer will be given out on Dec 10th.  Go to Lulus Lovlies to enter:

http://luluslovlies.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-pink-saturday-and-100th-follower.html

Great Giveaway!

I just came across these lovely earrings that she is giving away!  I want to wish you well in the contest...but I also would like to win these pretty earrings for myself.  Oh, what the heck.....GOOD LUCK!  Click here:  http://graciejewellery.blogspot.com/2010/11/november-27-pink-saturday-give-away.htm

I'm not ready....

Nope.  Not ready at all.  But, I am one step closer.  

It sure seems like the Holiday Season has snuck up on me this year.  I feel like the Christmas decor is out early...or is it just me?  My Dear Daughter already has her Christmas decorations up and that was a couple weeks ago!!  Yesterday I told hubby to get out the Xmas boxes!  But, then I realized that I didn't want to have Christmas all around for Thanksgiving...it would seem like a whole different holiday, or Christmas dinner would seem like a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner.  So, I held back.  

I'm going to put on my holiday sofa slip cover that is burgundy and corderoy (so comfy and warm), and my fall flowers and those little Thanksgiving items here and there.  Since we are having our family dinner on Wed.  Guess what I will be doing on Thurs?  You got it.  Christmas will be arriving at this little cottage in FULL force!

Here are my few little changes so far.  You've seen it all before...I haven't had time to create anything new.  (But, I did make time to make something for ME...next post!) 

Dining room..before 

 Ready for Thanksgiving:

Fireplace before.  Ugh...this fireplace is not just for decor..it keeps our house warm, and that is very messy!  Lots of ash dust and wood shavings.  This is a constant thing all winter!  

Good time to vaccum the wall and ceiling!  I always say that this fireplace is the heart of our home.  We have so many pictures in front of it, family pics, prom pics.  So many happy memories. I think it's so pretty with all the rocks.

Now it's all ready for Thanksgiving.  

But, come Thursday...it will all change!!

P.S.  This decorating really got me in the spirit!  I even went over to Cutest Blog on The Block and got a Thanksgiving background for my blog.  Isn't it great??!

Spider Necklace for Halloween

I wanted a really great necklace to wear with my Halloween costume.  We had 3 Halloween gigs with our band and I had an Elvira costume.  I searched around the internet and decided that I could make a spider necklace.

I chose a few things out of my stash....mostly clear, crystal, black, silver and red.

This spider was my first attempt.  I love the way it turned out.  

And, so I made earrings to match.  My daughter had to fly (as a flight attendant) on Halloween and so I gave this set to her.  She said she got lots of compliments.  

None of my beads were big enough for what I had in mind.  So.....I went through my stash of old jewelry.

I had loads of earrings from the 80's and I picked an earring from this pile and took it apart.  This spider necklace has 2 parts of one earring.  How did I ever wear them that big?  I actually made this twice.  I felt that the wire gauge wasn't strong enough to hold the shape in the legs.  And, that's so important. 

It turned out just the way I wanted it.  It was HUGE!!  And, it kept it's shape the whole weekend!

I made some little spiders to match.

Here's the final result...hubby and me in our costumes.  We had a terrific weekend of FUN.  You can read all about it on my other blog:  http://www.stephaniesbandblog.blogspot.com

Oh...one more thing...I must point out the fabulous spider ring that my dear daughter bought for me on one of her trips!  It was perfect!