My Dandelion Wishes

Wishing all my Family and Friends a very Merry Christmas.

That title is certainly misleading! Ready I am not, getting closer but still a ways to go . Most of the gifts are purchased just a few difficult ones to look for, menu is planned and most of the decorating is completed. My Christmas album for 2011 is finished as of this morning and I can't wait to take the photos and put in it. I was at Craftfusion most of the day yesterday working on this beautiful album taught by Suzette Ricks . We had cookies , doughnuts, pizza and home made fudge from Barb to keep our energy levels going. It was a fun class and I was able to complete most of the album there. This am I finished up embellishing the pages. I think this is one of my favorite albums ever well except the one she taught last Christmas.

I hosted a small group for a Christmas Stocking Swap. I kept the group small due to my time and work constraints and deadlines I was facing. My idea for the swap came from a wonderful online class I took with Nancy Maxwell James of Sugar Lump Studios . I really enjoyed her class and all her helpful tips and so the idea was born. I assigned secret partners, to each of the members as well as a Dec 10th deadline. Christine suggested we all wait and open our boxes on the same day. So today is the reveal. The stocking are gorgeous and it has been fun as the photos came in to see how each of us interpreted the theme. We designed and filled our stockings with goodies and then mailed to our partner. Below are the photos of our stockings and a little thank you I sent to each of the gals. The stockings are in no particular order just how they came up on the computer. I am already thinking of next year :) and what we could do and to being more organized time wise so I can invite more ga...

So Hard to believe that my Grandson Anthony is 11 already. Time has a way of just slipping by so quickly. I am very proud of the young man he is becoming, funny, goofy, polite, caring, and an all around great kid HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY. Big wishes for a great year ahead

So many things big and small to be grateful and thankful for this year. Wishing all my family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving

This fall is rushing by so quickly. Seems I remain a month behind. I have been looking for an online class to keep me occupied throughout the long winter months and bless Maija she pointed me in the right direction. I am signed up for Jeanne Oliver's online class Creatively Made . Looking forward to some new creative adventures. Meanwhile I have taken a class or 2, have issued a challenge to my daughter and Grandkids and am trying very hard to get over a big disappointment involving an event I so wanted to attend but can't. I issued a challenge to my Grandkids and my daughter to take 1 photo per day every day in November and who ever completed all 30 days would receive a prize> Well they took it and ran with it and forgot to remind Grandma Nov 1st. They think they are all so cute that the are ahead four days. Hmmm we will see on Nov 30th. I am looking forward to their pics to see what they see behind their cameras. Last nite we were invited to celebrate my daughter...

This economy has everyone tightening their fiscal belts and I have been no different! Last nite on the local news channel they did a piece on the economy and I found it to be insightful . Supposedly the recession was over in 2009 hmmm hadn't noticed that and supposedly consumers have cut back on their spending. Well that I have noticed as I sure have been reluctant to put out money for "unnecessary purchases". The expert related that to get out of this mess we need to start buying Ha A good excuse to spend. I have been without a refrigerator for a month and I have to tell you eating out of cans has gotten way boring. Frequent trips to the store to purchase food for one meal expensive and time consuming. So Saturday I took the plunge and let go of some hard earned coveted savings and purchased my beautiful new appliance. Haven't filled it up yet but just love it. It actually keeps food cold or frozen. So I guess all this rambling is to say I did my part to ...

This has been the first weekend since I came back from Iowa that I have had a chance to be at home with no classes, events, or have to's. It has been a whirlwind month and sadly September escaped me somehow. I hit the floor running when I arrived back to Phoenix on the 10th and it seems it just never quit. It has been nice to have three days off and to just take it easy not rushing around trying to get everything done and ready for a new week. I am enjoying the peace and calm of this weekend and the fabulous cooler weather. Having the windows open with a gentle breeze blowing in has been heaven. So what was I doing in September?? Well I was taking classes and working and attending a wonderful event in California. Colleen was here for a short weekend and it was go go go!!! September 16th and 17th found Colleen and I out and about. Friday was full to the brim with breakfast with Jan, shopping, shopping, shopping, and Beth Quinn's open house and then a lovely dinner with J...