A few new things......

A brief and fuzzy pic of a fun chandelier I just completed for a friend's shop.

This is one of my houses that I'm planning on including in my spring collection that I will be submitting for licensing. It's not completely finished, but I wanted to share it!

A girly Victorian-like barrette I made that looks SO lovely when you put in hair that has been pinned up (my sis wore it the other day and it looked fabulous with her shirley temple curls).

On to other things........

Ok, so my computer has been acting very funky lately....have no idea what the trouble is, been running super slow and sounds like a train engine. At times I find myself glancing over at the tower, wondering if I should make a break for it.....death by computer is not how I want to leave this earth and it seriously sounds like a massive explosion is in it's near future. Which will be a big bummer for me, cause there's no way I can afford a new one.

New Year.......2008....WOW. I hope you had a great and safe one. I spent mine in the comfort of my bed with the most amazing man in my life........my son. (Had ya'll going there, didn't I?) He of course insisted on watching the new Simpson's movie. That movie is something, let me tell ya. He spent the whole time repeating what Bart said, but replacing the bad words with words that are acceptable in our house. He's just the most amazing thing I ever did. And I'm so thankful to be starting another year where I can watch him grow (too fast) and where mommy still "rules". I hope I always "rule".

Christmas rush has come to a close...........

I hope everyone's Christmas was warm and cozy and filled with laughter, love and memories in the making. Mine went by in a blur, as we usually have to pick up and go to five different places over the holidays. And I think I've come to a decision. Next year, my Christmas will be spent at home. I love to see everyone and love the atmosphere of a packed house, but it kills all of my holiday spirit to have so many obligations. I will have a Christmas with all the trappings next year and if people want to see me and mine, then they will be more than welcome to come to my house. I just can't do all the running anymore, it leaves me no Christmas.

When I was little, I would get so depressed after Christmas. I think it might have had something to do with anticipating it for so long and when it was over, i was left with the question..."Well, what am I supposed to look forward to now?" I still sort of feel that childlike innocence in me whenever I feel the holidays coming to a close. Almost as if the kid in me is telling me it doesn't have to be Christmas for me to feel like it is everyday. So, on that note I think I might have come upon my New Year's Resolution quite accidentally, which is to live each day as if it is Christmas, then I'll never have to say goodbye to it again!

Sledding Fun

We had a blast this weekend sledding in all the snowy white goodness!!!! Even though I got smacked so much in the face with snowballs that I eventually had to take my glasses off......they kept landing at my feet....rofl.

Christmas Past

This beautiful young lady is my mom. She'd kill me if she knew this picture was on my blog, so let's keep it our little secret, ok?? This was taken when I was about two years old. I went shopping for her today, and let me tell you, if you knew my mom, you would know what an impossible chore that is. The woman wants for nothing. Except for maybe coffee and her beloved cigarettes (which nobody can talk her into quitting, been there, almost didn't survive that, lol).

My mom left my paternal father when I was about three months old. He was an alcoholic and she knew that my life (and hers) would be better without him in it. So, my mom has always been a single mom, though she's been married since, it never mattered. If I needed something or someone, it was my mom that I counted on. At Christmas, my mom would go to elaborate measures to make sure I had the best Christmas. On Christmas morning, everything would be wrapped in paper I had never seen before (she'd drive two towns away to try and get paper that was not available where we lived) so that I would have the "santa was here" feeling as I nervously anticipated the treasures that awaited me.

She never asks for anything....never makes nonchalant statements proclaiming that she could really use this or that. So, I'm stuck. In previous years, I've made her something or wrote her poem and had it framed, but this year I feel as if I just can't figure it out. I guess it's back to the drawing board and different stores tomorrow so that I can walk up and down each aisle and wonder if the stuff I'm looking at is anything she wants, lol. I know that there is nothing I can do to make any Christmas as special as the Christmas Past she's given me, but I'd sure like to try....if only I knew where to start.

Christmas Trees........

Getting a Christmas tree has always been a tradition. The weekend after Thnaksgiving, we all head out to the same Christmas Tree Farm and engage in the search for the "ultimate" tree. Hiking through the trees, my son is yelling..."see, I knew we would have to walk miles out here!".....which made me have a flashback of the Griswold's driving to the middle of nowhere and dragging their children through the forest in Nat'l Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Luckily, my son didn't end up suffering for too long, lol. We found a tree fairly quickly, too quickly in my opinion, since the scnery was so lovely I wanted to hang out all day!

Under the Weather and Over the Hill

I feel old....VERY old. Especially since I caught my son's sickness. Standing at the store while waiting for his medicine was like torture. My muscles ached, my eyes burned and it was all I could do to keep from swooning, lol. Peanut strated kindergarten a couple weeks ago and when a note came home from the teacher last week, informing the parents that there had been a case of strewp throat in his class, I gasped out loud and knew he would get it. It was just a matter of time before those ugly symptoms started popping up.

I'm feeling slightly better today and after two days of staying home from school, Penaut was able to go to school today for picture day. Yeehaw.......let's just say that I can bet you $100 my son was the only kid in school who had spiked up red hair and his fire/skull t-shirt on, rofl. I bet his teacher is seriously rethinking my head-room parent status, lol. Can't wait to go in there for "Volunteer Tea" with my ripped up jeans that are so many different colors from many hours of painting wear. Most of my clothes are stained (or have skulls on them), so even if I wanted to give a different impression, I couldn't. C'est la vie.........

Through Mine Eyes

I just received word that my grandpa is in the hospital. This picture was taken after our weekly lunch ritual. I was inspired to take it after hearing him tell my son his stories. And he started it off with ...."Through mine eyes, this is the way I saw it." My grandpa fought in the Koren and Vietnam wars and was wounded in both. He jokes that his Purple Heart awards get him a large cup of coffee at McDonald's for .75 cents.

I find it funny that through all of that, that's his shining humor. He took bullets in both wars and believes that his greatest reward is that cheap cup of coffee, lol. He's the kind of grandpa that doesn't watch his language, either. While talking to my five year old son he was quick to start a sentence with ...."and goddamit...". That's what I love about him. He was always honest, always willing to say what he felt and mean what he said. And that's what I've been trying to do for years now.

I'll treasure this picture always and the memories from the afternoon will live forever in my heart.

Kindergarten...WOW

My son started kindergarten last week. The bus stop was full of weeping moms and tearful goodbyes. But, as I stood there and realized that this was it.....that my baby was growing up, flying the coop...I looked down at him and he gave me the biggest smile ever. A smile that said, "Don't worry, mom. I can't wait to go. I'm going to have so much fun."

As the bus came around the corner, he jumped up and down and hugged me tight around my hips....."Bye, mom, I love you."

I didn't cry. Still haven't. I don't think I will, either. I thought I would, but as I watched him smile from the bus window and wave, I couldn't help but be proud and happy that my boy was on his way. On his way to himself. What a beautiful journey it is to grow up and get to know who you are, your wants and needs, your likes and dislikes. I'm 27 and I'm still learning about them everyday, and to be quite honest, it's wonderful.