the new season has begun

Here is how we spent our weekend:

painting and painting our (at their highest peak-18 ft) living room.  the first of many rooms in our house that will need sprucing up... then onto my mothers house. 
I now realize that I am going to have to put my crafts on hold for a while (long time).  One of the reasons I love bloging and reading blogs are all the great ideas out there... many of which I am dying to make.

There is a time and season for all things. 
right now I will just give up my crafting!  (wellllllll I still have a couple of things I'm still working on for Christmas) BUT I am packing up my sewing machine and  supplies and...shock and gasp... cleaning and sorting and even getting rid of items (saving them for you Gina,  the box is getting bigger)

ahhh time,  don't we ALL agree that there is never enough~

  tis the season to be busy, fa la la la la, la la   la   la

Let the celebrating begin!

alllllll right, first and foremost I know you are all waiting with baited breath to see if you won ONE of my giveaways AND  I'm really having TWO giveaways...
drum roll please
for the first  giveaway of the ornament:
Generator Min:  
Max: 10  
Result: 6 
which is CHERIE of  Bakow Babble  clap clap yea!!!
she writes a GREAT blog,  and this post from a couple of days ago had me in tears.
http://bakowbabble.blogspot.com/2010/12/tradition.html
you've got to go read it!

and now for the necklace:
Generator Min:  
Max: 10  
Result: 8
Which is Debbie Jean of  Mama Bear's thoughts here  and she always has the cutest stories and tales and laughs to cheer you. Go visit to return the favor!

So... Let the Christmas celebration begin.... parties, and giving to others and remembering the reason for the season, our dear elder brother Jesus Christ.  Let's follow His example and share what we have with others.  "because I have been given much , I too must give"

Last night was our church women's group dinner and I was in charge of decorations.  It was a simple night with a simple dinner so I think it turned out rather elegant!

 

 and last but not least I have to add an updated picture of little (and growing) now 10 month old Carson.

 

 yep pretty hard not being around him..and not being able to pinch those chubby cheeks!!!

Food Fun Friday- Saltine Toffee

don't forget to enter my giveaway.. you have till TONIGHT

enter here

This one really caught my eye...
yummy...check
quick...check
easy...check
pretty cheap...check

I first found these Saltine Toffee cookies at cookies an cups.. (which I did a blogville on a while ago) 

I have since found these delicious cookie ideas  here and here.  

Saltine toffee

a sleve and maybe a half

2 sticks butter

2 C brown sugar

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350

Line baking sheet (jelly roll pan) with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.

Arrange your crackers snugly on baking sheet.

On medium high heat, melt butter and sugar together.

When mixture comes to a rolling boil, let boil for 2 minutes, stirring.

Pour mixture over crackers.

Bake 10 minutes.

Toffee will be bubbling

Let cool for 1 minute and then sprinkle chocolate chips on top.

Let sit for 2 minutes and then spread the melted chips with spatula.

You can then sprinkle the top with: left over crushed crackers or chopped nuts  or mints or even drizzle with white chocolate.

Refrigerate pan for appox 30 minutes so chocolate and toffee sets up.

Break or cut into pieces.


ok The funniest title I saw for these was: 
 “White Trash Toffee”  or  “Trailer Park Toffee"

blogville-how about Orange

First of all don't forget to enter my giveaway.. here

now onto our feature presentation.

What a fun blog, How about orange

There is so much here. There are many tabs to choose from: DIY tutorials,  free downloads, useful resources and time wasters... yeah, not going there, I already waste tooooooo much time checking out all the blogs in blogville... but it does make me curious!

Here is a great download for making a box:

and 

and another download for Victorian labels

 in her Useful Resources, she highlights the tiny site:

it helps you  decide what adhesive to use to glue, wait for it..... this to that.

 So go, download, create from her many tutorials, or just waste some time with something you never thought of before!!!
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Wisdom

 There's nothing random about acts of kindness. Compassion is an active verb with moral consequence"

-- Dr. Fred Epstein

don't forget my giveaway .... enter up until Friday ......  here

Two Giveaway Prizes... You know you want one! come on in and enter

I finished my ornament for the ornament exchange...

and I made an extra one for a giveaway!!!

I've also been making more Christmas Domino Necklaces.... and I made one for a giveaway!!!

ok, so here's what you'll need to do...

comment!  

that's right, all that is needed is a comment... let me know what you are hoping to get for Christmas!  I love hearing other peoples wants and desires!  I think we all do!

I will choose a winner #1 for the ornament and #2 necklace by random.org on Friday December 3rd at 10pm
Let's start December off right!! win win win

It's all just around the corner

It seems that December is just around the corner...

a few days away actually...

THE darkest month of the year,

I saw this cute little advent box last year for an enormous amount of money... but the holiday spirit was surrounding me... and I bought it and never made it (sad face)

 

as you can see... I MADE IT THIS YEAR.

It was pretty fun.

 and that is how I spent my Thanksgiving weekend.

along with a little black Friday shopping, cleaning, laundry, finishing up the key ornaments for the ornament exchange, mailing packages, attending 3 craft shows with a friend, cleaning the front room and getting it ready to paint, cutting trees to have enough greenery to decorate 12 tables...

AND finding out there will be a wedding in the next year... our family is growing!!!

yes sireee bob, It IS the holiday season!