Meaningful Mondays: Dec 31

[source]

Seven Sunday Blessings: Dec 30

[source]

This week, I am thankful:

1.  For the holidays.  They bring our families together and allow us to spend time and make more memories.

2.  That my nephew proposed to his girlfriend of ten years just prior to Christmas - we are looking forward to a great, great day!

3.  That Santa brought me new leather gloves, just in time for the weather to turn cold!

4.  That everyone who was traveling over the holidays made it to their destination safely.

5.  For time off, despite the busy time at work right now.  A few days were all that were needed to recharge my batteries - even though I wrenched my back and had to miss an extra day, laid up in bed! :(

6.  For Baci.  A Christmas tradition that brings back memories of my mom.

7.  To Connor for shoveling the driveway (with minimal complaining) because his dad is unable to do so.  I'm so blessed to have such a great kid, aren't I?

What are YOU thankful for?

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)

Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

52 Week Journal: Week 1

As you may remember from December, I mentioned that I would be completing a 52-week journal in 2013, a sort of snapshot of each week, using wonderfully doodled pages by Christie Zimmer of www.graceisoverrated.com.

I have downloaded Page 1 and will work on completing it this week.  You can download it here:

Journal Page #1 (scroll to the bottom for links to the blank and pre-coloured pages)

I will share my completed page next Saturday and hope you will share yours as well! Happy Journaling!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Jan 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Free Font Friday: Dec 28

This font reminds me of the circus!  Great for titles...

[Rosewood download from fontpalace.com]

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Happy Belated Christmas!

[source]

In an effort to reconnect with family and friends, and to increase my productivity around the house, I am trying to remain unplugged for the majority of the holiday season.

However, I hope that you and your families had a joyous Christmas and would like to extend wishes to you all for a safe and healthy 2013!

See you next year...

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Seven Sunday Blessings: Dec 23

[source]

This week, I am thankful:

1.  For my generous and supportive bosses.  They are understanding and great over the last few months, with everything that's happened - and they overlook my erratic schedule!  Not to mention they also gave me beautiful Christmas gifts that I love!

2.  That holiday baking is DONE!  After tomorrow's cupcake icing marathon, I will finally be able to see my kitchen island!

3.  That our first snowfall was mild!  Just enough for a white blanketing at Christmas - and then it can go away until next year.

4.  For the Bulk Barn.  Where else can you find Tim Tams!?  Yummm...

5.  That Connor is finally feeling better today, after several days of intestinal issues.  Hopefully the virus stays away from the rest of us...

6.  For my Cameo (makes the list again!) - I made the cutest little cupcake flags for my North Pole cupcakes!  (Stay tuned for photos next week...)

7.  That we are fortunate enough to be able to fulfill a few of the items on the kids' wish lists this year.  We don't usually buy them a lot of stuff throughout the year so it's especially exciting to see them go wide-eyed and grateful on Christmas morning.

What are YOU thankful for?

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)

Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

12 Days of Giving

Today, it's my turn to share a project on the Canadian Scrapbooker blog for our 12 Days of Giving.  Visit the blog here and comment on each of the past days for a chance to win some wicked prizes!

I created a quick, cute little mini album from a Silhouette cutting file by Lori Whitlock.

Supplies:  Bazzill Basics cardstock; Websters' Pages patterned paper; Offray ribbon; Ranger Tim Holtz Distress ink; Silhouette Cameo; mini album cut file by Lori Whitlock (available in the Silhouette online store here and here); I ♥ You cut file (my own design - see below for download link!); Basic Grey magnets.

This cute little mini album features five boxes housed in a pretty wrap.  The Silhouette file also includes a storage box to hold 3 of the mini albums.  You can view her instructional video here.  I chose five co-ordinating papers from the Websters' Pages Royal Christmas collection and cut each of the five panels from these papers, and then mixed and matched them on each individual inner box.

Each box has flaps that open to reveal the inner part.  You could easily decorate all of the sides, both inside and out, as the inner boxes have a bit of depth to them to allow for embellishments, etc.  Instead, I chose to share some of the many reasons that I love my hubby, written on tiny cards to fit in each box.   Quick, easy and heartfelt gift, in a snap!

Each box is attached to the outer wrapping with ribbon - you could also use twine, as Lori does in her instructional video.

I designed the .studio file for the title (it includes the entire "I ♥ You" cut, as well as an additional graphic for the heart.  You can download it using the link below (for your personal use only, please!)

I ♥ You download

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Free Font Friday: Dec 21

Here's a funky font, with a hand-written look:

[Janda Stylish Script download from dafont.com]

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

It's the End of The World

Or so the Mayan Calendar says.

[source]

But Australia's still around so I guess we're okay for tomorrow...

Thank goodness - because we're having our annual Christmas potluck at work tomorrow. :)

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Winter Wishes

I wanted to share another card that I created, using the Royal Christmas line by Websters' Pages, this adorable Popcorn the Bear stamp and my Spectrum Noir markers.

Supplies used:  Bazzill Basics and Crafter's Companion cardstock; Websters' Pages patterned paper and glitter ribbon; Crafter's Companion stamps (With Love and Winter Wishes); Spectrum Noir markers; Scrapbooks Adhesives dimensional adhesive;  Silhouette Cameo; Doily Circles 1 cutting file by Bird's Cards; Ranger Stickles.

Spectrum Noir palette:
Popcorn Bear: GB8, GB10, EB6
Blanket: EB1, TN1, FS3
Blanket stitching: EB7
Paws, patch: EB6, EB7, EB8
Leaves, stem: CG2, CG3, JG5
Flower:  BP2, BP3, BP5, JG5
Heart: BP6
Sentiment banner:  BP2

When I discovered that my white cardstock clashed with the patterned papers I was using, I simply used the broad tip of my marker to colour a section of cardstock, and stamped right over top for an instant match!  To glitz it up a bit, I added Stickles to the edge of the banner and the flower centre.

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

20 Questions, 2012 - Connor

[photo credit:  Gabe Clerici]

Last week, Connor celebrated his "Golden" birthday - 13 on the 13th.  You may remember that I interviewed Aili on her birthday (okay, so it was a month after - go ahead and judge... ;))

Here are Connor's answers, at 13 years old:

1. What is your favourite colour?  Green

2. What is your favourite song?  Misty Mountain Cold by Howard Shore (from The Hobbit soundtrack)

3.  How do you get to school?  Bus

4.  What chore did you do last?  Dishes

5.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  Weapons Engineering Technician

6.  What is your favourite TV show?  The Big Bang Theory

7.  Who is your best friend?  Bailey Robert

8.  What is your favourite cereal?  Cheerios

9.  What makes you mad?  My sister

10.  What's under your bed?  Everything

11.  If you could have any pet, what would it be?  A hedgehog

12.  What do you like best about yourself?  My caringness (I think he means compassion...)

13.  What's your favourite joke?  An egg, some bacon and a piece of toast walk into a bar.  The bartender looks at them and says, "Sorry, we don't serve breakfast here..."

14.  What is your favourite holiday?  Summer vacation

15.  What vegetable do you like best?  Broccoli

16.  How tall are you?  5'2" or 5'3"

17.  What size shoe do you wear?  7

18.  What's your favourite subject in school?  English

19.  What's your favourite sport?  Volleyball

20.  If you could have one superpower, what would it be?  To control time.

Inspired by an interview that Nicole conducts with each of her children every year on their birthday, I used a combination of Nicole's questions, questions from a special issue from Simple Scrapbooks, Scrapbook Shortcuts with Quizzes and Questions, along with my own and came up with my own list. 

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Meaningful Mondays: Dec 17

[source]

Seven Sunday Blessings: Dec 16

[source]

This week, I am thankful:

1.  To my cousins, Connie and Gabe, for inviting our extended family out for a Christmas dinner on Saturday, complete with gifts from Santa for the kids and a Secret Santa exchange for the adults!  It was so great to catch up with all of my cousins and their families - we need to make a point to do it more often!

2.  For the joy that holiday baking brings.  Shortbread, white chocolate biscotti, almond fudge, chocolate crinkles and Bailey's truffles.  Yum.  I made up boxes to give away at our dinner on Saturday.  Now I need to replenish the stock for our Christmas Eve dinner with our family.

3.   That Gary and I managed to squeeze in time for our annual Christmas shopping trip that we take every year.  We both take the day off, get the kids on the bus and spend the day shopping, having lunch and then racing back to get the car unpacked before the kids get home!  This year, we didn't make it and had to hide our purchases in the garage until they went to bed! :)

4.  That my Christmas tree is up (and decorated!), and that our holiday decorations have once again taken over our home.  I LOVE Christmas!

5.  For the wonderful cards that we have been receiving from family and friends.  It warms my heart to see a brightly coloured envelope mixed in with the bills! :)

6.  For gingerbread villages and watching the kids enjoy decorating the houses.  I'm not so crazy about the constant, "Can we eat them yet?" badgering that I am getting...

7.  To Connor for sharing his deep-fried Mars bar birthday dessert that they brought him at Kelseys.  It was delicious!

What are YOU thankful for?

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

It's a Sketchy Challenge:  Dec 2012 (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Inspiration Elevator: Challenge 8

You may recall from last month's challenge that the purpose of this challenge group was to take our scrapbooking to the next level, to stretch our creative process and to grow as artists by embracing challenges that make us think, work and grow. You can view all of the challenges on my blog here.

Please join me in welcoming Michelle Hernandez as a guest designer this month! We are so fortunate to have her joining us as we explore our scrapbooking limits. Michelle uses a variety of techniques to take her pages to the next level. You can see her amazing creations at her blog My Analog Life.

This month, it was my turn to challenge my talented team members. Because I feel so strongly about it, I chose to share my Leave Your Legacy (LYL) challenge with them to see how they would interpret it. I shared my reasons for the LYL challenges with them and then shared this month's challenge:

I think it's important to document your fears as well as your happy times and accomplishments. Many times, things of which we are FEARFUL,  often characterize our personalities. It's also rewarding to be able to  look back, once you have overcome a fear, to realize how far you have come. On the heels of my husband's heart attack, this was an obvious choice for me, but it's difficult to put into words the FEAR that you feel when faced with the possible loss of your partner. I want to remember the fear that we both felt, so that it will help us to stick to our commitment of living a healthier, less stressful life.

So what is it that you FEAR the most?

 Not only do I want you to scrapbook about a FEARFUL topic, but I also want you to include at least ONE product that you have avoided using.   Maybe it's because you are hoarding it and are FEARFUL of using it all, or maybe you are intimidated by it. Whatever the reason, spread your wings and challenge yourself to use it.

I will share my layout here but have close-ups and details HERE when I posted the LYL challenge:

Supplies used:  Canadian Scrapbooker Super Stock; Bo Bunny patterned paper; Just Cre8 stamps (Love Gives You Wings); Ranger embossing powder; Spectrum Noir markers; K&Company, Recollections and unknown washi tape; American Craft letter stickers; Prima Marketing bling and flowers; The Twinery twine; miscellaneous buttons and flowers from my stash.

For the second part of my challenge, I used my washi tape!! I have been hording it something fierce because I love it so much!! But using so much of it on my layout really helped me to get over that fear - because if I use it, I get to buy more, right?  Right?!?!

Another note:  Since challenging my teammates, you may have noticed that my topic evolved.  Yes, the fear of living without my husband is debiliating for me, but on top of that, the fear of my children having to go through life at a young age without one or both their parents is what scared me more.

And until today, in light of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, yesterday, it never occurred to me that I should also be fearful of losing my children. :(  My heart literally ACHES in my chest.  I can't even express how this makes me feel.  No parent should ever have to outlive their child.

To honour the memories of the 26 victims, 20 of which were children, please remember to hug your children a little tighter tonight and to remind them how much you love them.

And please stop by my teammates' blogs, as they share what they fear most, right now:

                                 Sue Sykes  ** you are here! **

Lisa Spiegel

Joanne Burton

Christa Uttley

Laura Whitaker

Audrey Yeager

Lisa Moen

Laurel Seabrook

Ann Jobes

Cathy Harper

                         Michelle Hernandez, Guest Designer

I appreciate and read every one of your comments but if you play along with us this month and scrap what you fear most, please be sure to ALSO link up your project on my LYL challenge for a chance to win this Cocoa Daisy monthly kit!

See below for a link to the challenge...

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)

Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Free Font Friday: Dec 14

I'm excited to try this next font on my Cameo - it only have uppercase elements, but I can already picture customized ex libris book plates like these for the kids' stockings, or maybe some labels like these for our Christmas cards!!

[Monogram KK - download from font2u.com.com]

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

A Christmas Tradition Continues

Every year, we would all look forward to Christmas.  Not only to spend time with family and friends, but for my mother-in-law's melt-in-your-mouth shortbread.  It was divine.  I actually had to hide it from Gary and the kids or I wouldn't even get a piece!

Last year, I didn't get a chance to keep up with Gary's mom's tradition, after she passed in August 2011.  This year, however, I was determined to try.

I poured over hundred of recipes, looking for the perfect combination of simplicity, taste and what-do-I-actually-have-in-my-pantry??  I finally settled on a simple mixture of four ingredients - and never looked back!


Christmas Shortbread
(source unknown)

Ingredients:
1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. icing sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch
1 1/2 c. flour

Original Instructions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375°F.
2.  Whip butter until creamy and light.
3.  Sift dry ingredients into large bowl.  Add to butter gradually, beating on low.  Beat on high for 3-4 minutes.
4.  Pat into traditional shortbread pan (or 8x8" square pan) and prick with fork.
5.  Bake 12-15 minutes - do not brown!

Sue's Notes:
I really just winged it for this recipe and aside from the ingredients and temperature, didn't follow the recipe at all!  Here's what I did:

I did whip the butter until it was very light and full of air.  But I'm lazy when baking and didn't sift the ingredients first.  Heck, I didn't even add them gradually!  I just measured them all out and added them to the butter at once.  I did switch to my dough hook on my Kitchen Aid to mix it all together.  Again, I didn't bother to time it - I just kneaded it until all the dry ingredients were incorporated into the butter evenly.

At this point, I decided I wanted cookies instead of bars so I used my mini ice cream scoop to scoop out even amounts of dough.  I rolled them quickly between my palms to even out the balls and laid them on a cookie sheet, about an inch apart.

My oven was set to 375°F on the convection setting and I cooked them for about 13 minutes.  After removing from oven and letting them sit for a minute or so to cool on the cookie sheet, I transferred them to a rack to cool

The photo above shows the cookies right out of the oven, but after they cooled, I rolled them in icing sugar for a bit more decadence.  The option is yours - they are delicious regardless!

My only complaint was that they were a bit bigger than I wanted.  But I would rather have uniformity (via my mini scoop) over petite-ness (via eyeballing).  As I said before, they are so yummy either way!

Enjoy!

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Meaningful Mondays: Dec 10

[source]

Amen to that! 

Go out and try something new today - the chance that you may get to say, "OMGosh, that was amazing!" is worth the "Oh, well..." you may get!!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Seven Sunday Blessings: Dec 9

[source]

This week, I am thankful:

1.  For NeoCitron.  And orange juice.  And Biaxin.  Because I really dislike being sick... :(

2.  For Blistex DCT for Lips.  I've been using this since university and it's still the best for dry lips!

3.  That the President's Choice Black Label Salted Caramel ice cream is way too salty and not very creamy for my tastes.  Because at $6.99 for a pint-size container could become very expensive...

4.  That I just noticed that Haagen Daz makes a Salted Caramel Truffle ice cream!!  Uh oh... trouble!

5.  For online shopping, which means I have to brave the crazy throngs at the mall a bit less this year.

6.  For holiday baking.  Well, to clarify... my stomach is thankful.  My hips?  Not so much...

7.  For Gingerbread martinis... Cookies and alcohol - what's not to love?

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

It's a Sketchy Challenge:  Dec 2012 (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

The Hungry Wolf

[source]

I have a confession to make.  

Some days, I'm a crappy mom.

There, I've said it.  Am I proud of it?  No stinkin' way.  Am I convinced that I'm the only mom who feels this way?  Definitely not.  Do I still feel guilty for possible creating behaviours that will come back to bite me in the ass butt?  Absolutely, without conviction.

So what brought this all on, you may ask?  It's not like the heavens opened, thunder boomed, lightning crashed, and an all-powerful voice said, "...Oh, and by the way?  You STUNK today at being a mom!"

Although, to be honest - a little accountability like that wouldn't hurt some days.

A while ago, in my web surfing travels, I came across this excerpt on the Domestic Simplicity blog from Krista Tippett’s interview with Sylvia Boorstein called, “What We Nurture”:

“One of my friends has a story he likes to tell: A wise grandfather says to his grandson…’I have two wolves in my heart, one is loving and the other is vicious and they are at war with each other.’ And the grandson says, ‘Which is going to win?’ And the grandparent says, ‘The one I feed.’ I think our children learn to speak in the tone we speak in or to hold people kindly if we do.”

The moment I read that excerpt, I felt shame wash over me.

There are times when I can feel the stress and frustrations of the day building up inside of me, usually caused by outside factors, and it comes bursting out of me, like molten lava. And who is usually unfortunate enough to be in front of me when it happens?  My children.  Of course, I feel guilt and regret instantaneously, which only multiplies when I see the hurt or bewilderment on their sweet faces.  And even though I apologize profusely, it's too late to take back the sarcastic words or sharp tone.

Yes, I know that our kids model what they see.  No, I do not want them to model this behaviour.  Every once in a while, I will witness an outburst from THEM and can see shades of what THEY see when I do the same.

I talk to them about using their words to express what they mean and about thinking things through and being patient.  But I sometimes don't practice what I preach.  Which I know confuses them even more.

And so, as Sam Cooke once sang, a change is gonna come...

The last few weeks have been particularly trying, with me having to miss work because of sickness (both Aili and I), late nights to catch up, projects due, deadlines looming... and Gary trying to adjust to being back to work.

But every day, Life happens.  And it goes by so quick, that it's worth the extra effort to make sure that you live it exactly as it's meant to be lived, feeding the loving wolf.

Who did YOU feed today?

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:

It's a Sketchy Challenge:  Dec 2012 (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Free Font Friday: Dec 7

Love today's font, by Fonts Cafe:

[Retroactive - download from fontspace.com]

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)

Coming Soon - 12 Days of Giving!

Beginning on December 12, the Canadian Scrapbooker design team will be featuring 12 Days of Giving on the blog!  Come out for some holiday inspiration and fun!

Cheers,

P/S:  Don't forget about the following challenges on my blog for a chance to win:
It's a Sketchy Challenge (deadline:  Dec 31/12)
Leave Your Legacy: What You Fear Most (deadline:  Feb 28/13)