Brrrrrrr....

Hi, friends.  How are you?  I am sitting here listening to it sleet on my window.  I am warm but just the sound gives me goosebumps!  Thinking of sleet always reminds me of my dear mother, my ultimate

'Scrabble' mate, that years ago came up with the word 'sneet'.  The point of whether or not it is a word is not even important but it is always good for a laugh each winter when one of us gets to say that it is 'sneeting'.  Of course,  for anyone who wants to know, we say it is a combo of snowing and sleeting.  Makes sense doesn't it?  Has anyone ever heard a meteorologist use that word?  I would love to know.

I want to say 'Hello, welcome aboard' to our new friends that have joined us.  Feel free to jump in and give us your thoughts on anything - anytime.  I would love to have more interaction or conversations between all of us.  I dislike that we call each other 'followers'.  It makes it sound like a cult or secret circle of some such that we are joining.  I prefer friends, that's a nice word.  lol. 

We haven't looked in on my Pinterest boards lately.  How many of you have started some Pinterest boards.  I am hooked!  Hear are some of my latest pins....enjoy....



Isn't this great?!





A good winter shoe/boot!



From this......



...........To this.

























                        

Such pretty, soft colors.





          Then last, but not least........              

                     

I think I can fly....


I hope this gives you a start to a good week.  Have fun and invite your
friends over.    
Later gator.

******Today's Tidbit**********

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, he made their tiny wings.
                               ******Cecil Frances Alexander*****





New TuTus Listed

Hi, friends,
I'm just poppin' in for a minute to let you know that I have just listed 2 new tutus.  These two are really cute!  One is solid white, super fluffy with braids and bows that are dressed up with white ribbons and red hearts. The other one is red and white. Again, super fluffy with darling ribbons that have red hearts on them.  Although, hearts are year-round decor, these tutus could also be for Valentines Day.  Can you imagine how happy any little girl would be to get a tutu that somehow magically turns them instantly into a princess or a fairy? Check these and other things in my shop at
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Specialhandmadegifts .  Here is a peek at the tutus that I just listed:

Gotta run, see ya again in a day or two.  Hope that you are having a great weekend.    ♥♥♥

DIY Curly-Q Wreath

Hi, y'all.  I must have a new addiction, I love all the wreath ideas that I have been seeing.  I am crazy about one that I make that uses only 3 boas and a styrofoam circle.  How hard is that sounding?  This next one sounds easy, too.  I will see.
I first saw this one a couple of weeks ago.  I love it.  Different color combos could be used for different holidays or even a birthday.  I ran across the instructions already written out, so , I am borrowing these from Embellished Bayou. I think that this is super.
                                                                    Here is the store’s version, retailing for $25.00:




Like it?? I LOVE IT!
 

Here's how she did it. She started with an extruded wreath bought at Michael's with a coupon, so  it was less than $2.00.  If you’re lucky, your dollar store might have these, but hers didn't.

She spray painted the wreath pink in case any of  it showed through the ribbons and because she would be hanging it on a glass door and the back would be visible.  She also bought seven 3-packs of curly ribbon bows at the dollar store.  You’ll also need a staple gun and/or hot glue gun. Staple one bow on the wreath in the middle of the ribbon. Layer on another bow, criss-cross it on the top  of the first one. 

Keep doing this all the way around the wreath, pressing in the staples where needed.  Now, she found that the staples wouldn’t stay in, so she secured the ribbon with hot glue.  Depending on what kind of styrofoam wreath you have and how long your staples are, you may or may not need to do this.

Fluff the ribbons and you’re done! She hung hers from a coordinating satin ribbon. 



                           

I think that the only thing that I would do different is that I would make my own bows instead of purchasing them.  Isn't this GREAT? 

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Today's Tidbit

                           Today

Today I will try to live through this day only and not tackle my whole lifes problems at once.

  Today I will be happy.  Most people are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.

Today I will be agreeable, I will speak softly, look my best, be kind and considerate, neither critisizing nor finding fault with anyone but myself.

  Today I will be careful of my tongue, if I cannot find something   fine to say, I will be silent, for the spoken word no matter how much regretted can never be recalled.

Today I will keep smiling.  It takes only 7 muscles to smile but

 84 to frown.

  Today everything I do will be done to the best of my ability  It   may not and probably will not be the best that it can be done, but it will be my best.

------Author Unknown-----

Happy New Year 2012 !!

Hi, all, Happy New Year!!  Please, how about doing different this year.  I stopped this years ago, but still, 'everybody' likes to make New Years resolutions.  No more sweets, start exercising, loose 40 lbs., and on and on and on.  We all know the usual dozen that have been used to death and never last long enough to reach their final commitment.  lol. 
So, here is an idea for you.  As humans, we tend to dwell on the bad news or spread the bad experiences.  One bad meal at a restaurant, the whole neighborhood knows about it by morning.  One good meal, doesn't spread very far.
This year, I am suggesting you make a 'Good Memories Jar'.  This idea is not my brainchild, but I like it and wanted to share it with you.  All you need is a jar, any jar will do, a pen, and a little piece of paper.  Every time you do something that was fun, or do something that has left you with a great memory, jot it down on a piece of your scrap paper, then drop it in your 'Good Memories Jar'. 
A year from now, sit down with your family or spouse or whoever you make your memories with, and start going through everything that you wrote down and stuck in the jar.  Can you imagine how that could regenerate the laughs, bring back the happy feelings, remind you of the fun that you had?  I love this whole idea.  I don't think it would be as hard to stick to, for the whole year, because unlike the resolutions that everyone breaks and has to accept that they 'failed' at, your Good Memories Jar is all about happiness and good times. Do you like this idea?  Are you ready to try it?  I think it would be fun to see how many of us start this and how many can do it for the whole year.  Any takers out there?  Let me know if you are willing to do this, I might feel a contest coming on.  If you want to do this, leave a comment and if enough of us do this we well see who can go the longest, or who has the funniest story, etc.  Let me know.  I think that this could be fun!!
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Today's Tidbit
     For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
     For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.
     And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are
        never alone.
                        ------ Audrey Hepburn --------
                      ************************

Beautiful Bows

Hi, everybody,

Did everyone enjoy their holidays?  I hope that they turned out just like you expected them to. All of you young families are probably thinking that your holidays top them all because you have young kids, but I hate to bust your bubble.  Holidays are great with your kids around but, you haven't seen nothin' yet.  lol.  Wait until you have grandchildren.  Then you can say that your holidays were the tops!  (Really, by all rights, great holidays just need kids, any kids, they make a holiday so good.)  I don't know why there is a difference, except maybe it is knowing that you didn't foot that bill.  Well, I think we can at least agree, holidays are great when you have kids around.  They are so sweet, so excited, and so happy when they see the gifts that they have been given.  Most of them get so loving and thankful.

Speaking of gifts, lets talk about bows.  Big, beautiful bows and perfect little bows.  I wish I could have run across this before Christmas, but you have birthdays and next Christmas just around the corner.  This tutorial is by Eddie Ross and actually he taped this a few years back.  Mr. Ross is a wonderful designer and has been on all the best decorating shows and published in lots of the best magazines.

                               

  Check out his video, he makes it look so easy....

allowfulls<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jom2z5awqyg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>creen></iframe>

Well, I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial and now you can have the nicest wrapped packages at whatever the function is!

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Todays Tidbit:

Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful.  It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life, no matter what.

                             ********

When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.      -----Chinese Proverb

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Who Likes Beautiful Jewelry?

Hi, all.  Boy, that is one stupid question!  Who doesn't like beautiful jewelry would be more like it.  Two things help my world go 'round...beautiful jewelry and great people.  Well, I have found them both!  Tucked away, way, way, way up in Maine is home to this wonderful friend that I have made and her great jewelry.  I love her jewelry because she has some wonderful pieces that are dressy, but she also has some super casual, semi-dressy pieces, too.  Fitting the season, her name is Santa!  But, being born in Puerto Rico, she does not pronounce it like the big, red, round-bellied man we all like.  Her lovely shop is Black Owl Jewelry, http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheBlackOwlJewelry 

or http://www.facebook.com/BlackOwlJewelry .  I must give you a warning, from what I can tell, when you see something you like you better grab it then because if you don't it may be gone by the time you come back.  lol.  Just like hotcakes!  lol.

Look at how pretty these are...

 

I also like the variety of styles she uses, she says that she just goes with the idea that strikes her.  With her many, many years of experience her ideas seem never ending.

In earlier years she did photography and other things but she says that after some time she would get bored with what she was doing.  Jewelry doesn't do that to her because of all the variety in stones, beads, styles, and looks.   I am addicted to her work.  I think she makes beautiful  earrings, which is right up my alley.  lol.  A girl never has too many earrings!

       Santa is a self-taught artist, starting with beads and learning as she went.  I think that she is probably her hardest critic but she says that is how she pushes herself to do better and better.    She says that she works with what is in front of her, letting her hands take over while she works and thinks little on how things should be, just what feels right.   

Santa says that she is a free spirited, free thinker and I believe that she  is as genuine as a person can be and has a heart of gold!          

Be sure and check out her 2 sites and you will love what you see.  I certainly have.

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Today's Tidbit

     You may think you have challenges, but you have so many blessings.  Sometimes it takes only a moment of conscious effort to recognize these blessings.  Once you focus on the gifts instead of the problems, your whole perspective will change and you will see blessings everywhere.

                                              *************************

The Newest Listings from my Shop

Hi, all!

I think you probably know but just in case you don't...I have got my own handmade gifts shop.  This is my shop link :http://www.etsy.com/shop/Specialhandmadegifts .

So, today I want to take a minute to show you my newest listings.

These are Earring Keepers.  They are handmade and designed so you can easily keep track of your earrings and backs.  The keepers can be set on a dresser or vanity etc. or hung on the wall either horizontally or vertically.  You can use these for dangle or post earrings.

• To make these Earring Keepers, I took 4 x 6" , wooden  picture frames and decoupaged them with very nice, high-quality cardstock.  A piece of sturdy, plastic mesh has been mounted in the center area and is perfect for inserting earring wires or posts. 

I think that these would be great for yourself or for a gift exchange .  So, try one out and ENJOY!!

  

                                       *****************************
Today's Tidbit:
    Here are 2 quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson.  He says so much with so few words...

1.   What lies behind us and what lies before us are small  matters compared to what lies
       within us.
2.    For every minute you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness.
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