A New Year ... Some New Information!

So I'm only about a week late on posting my New Year post ... but what matters is that it is a new year, and I am still contributing to this blog.

First, A HUGE thank you to all of my readers! 2010 was an amazing year, and I feel like I have been so blessed to have interacted with all of you.

Next ... a big announcement
As of December 31 my contract with Creating Keepsakes ended. As I contemplated resigning, my mind kept going back to my sweet boys and the husband I don't get to see much lately, and I have decided to decline the offer to resign. It has been a hard decision for me to make, but it has been the RIGHT decision for me.

So where does this leave me with Scrapbooking? with CK? with other design work? Well, I have some great design offers in the works! I am still going to be scrapbooking, and hopefully will have more time to post projects that I will get to do. You will still be seeing my work in CK through the majority of the 2011 year (because we work in advance to the month of course), and I will still be available to special projects and they are presented to me ... SO you'll still be seeing a little bit of me around CK. As for the other projects, freelance design, etc. You will just have to stay tuned to my blog to see the fun things that are coming!

THANK you to ALL of the CK team, to the many incredible people I have had the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with and working with. Thank you for the most amazing, creative, learning, and excitement for the past 2 1/2 years. Thank you for choosing me as the Scrapbooker of the Year. It has been a dream come true! CK sent this darling cookie bouquet on the ending day of my contract. I have always wanted one of these and it was SO very fun to receive! THANK YOU CK! And thank you to everyone for supporting this wonderful journey of mine!

Lets finish up 2010 shall we?

Christmas was such a crazy season for me. What I needed was a good week or two, recuperating with my husband! Thanks for your patience with me as I get my life in order. I have lots of fun things to tell you, however I didn't feel like it was fair to leave you hanging on the rest of my 25 days until Christmas Countdown. Sorry for the long wait!

On day 23 ... we headed to Thanksgiving Point to look at the lights, and the car line was CRAZY long. It would have taken us 2 hours ... so we headed and got an Ice Cream Cone at JCW's. Not the most incredible holiday activity, however we were together as a family, and that is what made it a great holiday evening!

For Christmas Eve ... We started out the day sledding. It has been a Christmas tradition in my family for years. I forgot my camera for the evening events ... but sledding is always followed by a dinner with soup and scones, decorating sugar cookies for Santa, and this year we did a scavenger hunt for the kids to find great things that symbolize Christmas, and then tell the children what they mean! (Candy Cane, Star, etc). It was awesome.

Last was opening Christmas Jammies!
This year I couldn't find jammy pants that were all matching for the boys. So I bought a pair of pants for Adam at Target, then I got another pair that were the same but that were XXXL. I cut two pair of pants out for the boys ... and WALA! For $4 each, I had pants for my boys!

Christmas Morning was awesome and it was SO much fun that the boys were able to open their own presents and LOVED playing with all their new toys!!

Adam had an ENTIRE week off of School and work, so rather than spending time on my computer ... I enjoyed being with my little family.

We enjoyed a day skiing with Adam's brother, nephew and niece.
Watching movies, watching football, drinking hot cocoa ... trying to stay warm (it was CRAZY cold here in Utah) ... doing our annual one puzzle a year, {Mug from my cute friend Becky ... LOVE IT! Thanks Becks! (from anthropology}
...and taking down Christmas. I have to say, it was a relief after looking at my poor little Christmas tree ... those of you who have ever had a 2 year old and or 18 month old will understand why my decor looks so sad!

It was a wonderful season, a great week, and now reality of life is back. I have more updates for you about the new year ... but I think I will leave that for another post tomorrow! Hope your Christmas was amazing!
Merry Christmas AND Happy NEW YEAR!!

HappyNewYear

I am still here, just spending a few days with my husband. He had a full week off of work and doesn't go back to school for another week. I am spending as much time as I can with him. Thanks for understanding! I will be back soon!
M

The other days before Christmas!

I can't believe that Christmas is just a few days away. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

I have been SO very busy that I feel like I have been SO stressed and haven't been able to full enjoy everything this season. Although this countdown thing has been a lot more work than I realized it would be, I do have to say that I am grateful I have done it, because it has helped me focus on doing fun things with my kids and husband everyday, and setting the busy, not so important things aside. So onward with the countdown!!

TODAY!
Our plan is to go and see the lights at either Temple Square in SL or go to Thanksgiving Point to drive through an area of lights in our car. It all depends on the weather! Either way ... lights is the plan!

Day 22

We invited Bryson's cousin's over, that just had a new addition come into their family, over to our house to play and make some sugar cookies! YUM


Day 21
We got about a foot of snow ... so we pushed aside mommy's todo list and decided to go sledding. Bryson was scared to death of sledding, chad LOVED it! It was a great day!

Day 20
We went to dinner with our friends here:It took over an hour to get our food ... but the company was great, the waitress was just the sweetest little latino lady I have ever met, and the food was pretty good. Thanks Doug and Heather for inviting us!

Day 19
We watched the Polar ExpressBryson doesn't watch a lot of TV, however he is starting to like a few movies. He was GLUED to the TV for about a half hour! He LOVES the ChoChoo movie (as he calls it) and begs to listen to the song "hot chocolate" over and over again in the car.
We also got them new outfits just for Christmas for Church. I think they are handsome, but I am just a bit partial to these little guys!

Day 18
Today Adam finished his finals, so in celebration of 3 WHOLE WEEKS off of school, we went on a date!
Yummy dinner here And went to see this movie:
We also prepared a few batches of yummy carmel chocolate popcorn.
This is the popcorn they made the day I did my spot on Studio 5. One of my favorite things about going up there, is that I get to taste the recipes. THIS IS TO DIE FOR!!! Click here for the recipe!
Day 17
I read one of my favorite Christmas Stories with the boys:

It is about time ... now isn't it!

With the holidays, and everything that comes with it, I have had a harder time, trying to find time to update you all on the 25 day countdown. I will get going on that this evening!

But lets at least pick a winner, shall we!
First for the doodlebug products .... drum roll please!

Pam said...
I have followed your blog for quite awhile. I would love to win this giveaway. My recipes are a disaster...scraps of paper thrown in a cookbook. Everything else is extremely organized in my life, but I really need help with this!

CONGRATULATIONS PAM!!! Please email me your address so I can get this stuff sent off to ya!

And for the Master Menu Cookbook ... another drum roll ... from the little drummer boy (I need a coke today, can you tell?)

Heather V said...
I would love to win either of these wonderful prizes! My future husband is an extremely picky eater, so any and all recipes that he will eat go in my recipe box - which is in total disarray. Thanks for the chance!

Congratulations on getting married Heather! That is so exciting!
Just so you know Heather, my husband Adam is a "particular" eater too. He likes what he likes ... but 5 years has really helped. He is much more willing to at least try new things. Hopefully this will help ya! Be sure to email me so I can get your address as well!

It snowed a foot today at my house ... we weren't expecting a white Christmas this year, so I am THRILLED!
Hope you're enjoying your day!
M

Studio 5 Excitement

Recipe Organization Overhaul!!!

So I have to admit, I have been working on this system for quite some time, and now I have finally completed it! Thanks Studio 5!

I mentioned on the segment some fun tips and giveaways ... and so lets get to the first giveaway! (That is right ... there will be 2!!!)

I created my Recipe Binders using this DARLING product from Doodlebug Design.Doodlebug has been SO generous in giving away a lucky reader some of these cute products so you can get to start your new recipe binder. Leave a comment to tell me why you deserve to have these products!!

Next is something I didn't get a chance to talk about on Studio 5, because there wasn't time! A few years back I got this book.
IT CHANGED MY LIFE! and I'm not just saying that ... nor is the author giving me anything for endorsing her book. Up until 3 days ago, I never knew Marie Ricks ... but now after meeting her I respect her even more. What an amazing and talented person. Her website is www.houseoforder.com

In this book is some AWESOME tips for Menu Planning. I don't know if you're like me, but I often find myself wondering at 5pm what is for dinner, and then if I am too tired to do anything about it ... it is the $5 hot and ready option :)

As I was hoping to explain how amazing this system is ... I found a website that is FREE until January! They will start charging to sign up in a few weeks, so I thought I ought to let you know about it! Go here!


This website allows you to create a meal plan by Selecting pre uploaded recipes, or uploading your own recipes. Then it will calculate what you need to buy at the grocery store, according to your menu plan, You can add it to your phone so you can check off the things you buy! (This would be fantastic for me, because I always loose my list before I get to the store :)

Each week I plan out a menu of what I am going to eat each night. Then I make a list of the ingredients and head to the store. This will help you prepare so you get a wide variety of foods, and can do it quickly!

If online isn't your first choice, I am giving away Marie's other book: This is a $10 value, and really great to get you started! Be sure to leave a comment.

I will pick one winner randomly for the Doodlbug Prize, and one for the Book! If you become a follower of my blog, You can have 3 chances of winning! Good Luck!
M

I Promised!

So I told you I would be back. I think I am ready to go for Studio 5 tomorrow! The stress is in preparing, and before a blink of a second, it is all over! I can't wait to tell you more!

Day 16, Today
Me and the kids did a little going around town, and even stopped at our favorite bakery (Lehi Bakery) to get the most amazing Maple glazed donut you have EVER had! So the boys thought their day was fun!

But more importantly, this 25 day count down is supposed to include already planned ideas. Adam was in school tonight, so I got a babysitter and went to a fun little holiday gathering with some of my college friends. The food was AMAZING! The company even better, and Becky's house ... can you say Unbelievable!
Thanks so much Becks for the best holiday party ever.
PS ... Becky is selling a bunch of scrap stuff for a killer deal. Click here for the details!

Lets get down with the Count-down!
On the 15th Day of Christmas,
We made those ever so popular Candy Cane Reindeer. The boys just LOVED it! Don't as me what crazy person thought of this idea with a 2 year old and 1 year old. Fuzz balls + Candy Canes + Pipe Cleaners + Hot glue = a crazy mess ... but loads of fun!

On the 14th Day of Christmas,
We went Christmas Caroling with the Youth Group in our area. Don't ask me why I didn't get a picture of it. Adam was at School so I bundled up the boys and we walked around with them. They loved every minute. (**Picture taken last spring)

And on the 13th Day,

We delivered our first round of the 12 Days of Christmas.
I was in charge that night. I knocked on the door and ran faster than I had in a while.
Not only did I get the gift of giving, but I also received by getting my exercise for the day! It was AWESOME!**Note, this is only for the purposes of giving you a picture of how you might view me hiding in the trees! Not to be taken serious for a great photoshop photo, although, if you really think it is good ... I CAN be hired ::)