It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...EEK!

This weekend we went to Winchester's Christmas Market on the grounds of the cathedral and between the mulled wine & Nutella & banana crepe it finally hit me... Christmas is almost here. I think I have been in denial. I still have so much to do before I can even think of presents; like packing most of my essentials to go back to my mom & dad's house. We've decided that it would be good for us if I stayed with mom & dad after Christmas, with Simon following some time in February for our big move to New Orleans. It doesn't help that my last weekend here, next weekend, we are going to Istanbul, so I won't get anything accomplished. I just need to take a deep breath & start making lots of lists!

We made mince pies after the Christmas market on Saturday. I really love them, especially with plain nonfat yogurt. I have to give credit for the mince to Simon's aunt, Barbara, as she gave us a jar of her homemade mince last year, but I made the pate brisee & found the cute little star cutter for the tops.

After almost two weeks of working on nothing but cards, I put together two scrapbook layouts this weekend. I wish I could share, but I am submitting them for Pencil Line's DT search. I am super happy with them, and hope that they're good enough. I'd really like to make a design team in 2010, and will keep trying until it happens!

How much do you have to get done before Christmas rolls around?


Love & hugs,

Nothing like spaghetti & meatballs to make everything better

Last night was a rough night. I couldn't post on my blog. I couldn't do any scrapbooking. I finished writing out my Christmas cards and then sat looking at all of the things I needed to get done.

The truth is, I hate change. Even though I don't like it here, moving away still makes me very nervous because I'm going to the unknown again. The good thing is that the unknown is back in my home country, but it is still a new city, new people, new job (or career?)

I couldn't shake it all night. I eventually fell asleep crying next to my husband, who was totally baffled because he is giving up his life in the U.K. for me.

It was better when I woke up this morning. And to make it even better tonight, I made turkey meatballs and spaghetti, one of my favs.

Sorry for this Debbie Downer post, but I have no clue what else to write about.

Love & hugs,

All I want for Christmas...

It was my second Thanksgiving cooking the entire meal, and this year, I was much more relaxed than last. We had a party of eight including myself and there was just enough to go around. The traditional dishes were enjoyed by all, including green bean casserole, stuffing, homemade yeast rolls & buttery mashed potato. My turkey was just right (the secret is putting a piece of cheesecloth over the top that has been drenched in butter and wine.) All in all, a great night.

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it is officially the start of the Christmas season. And because of this, I thought I'd share my Christmas list with you, in case you were wondering what to get me. Ha ha.



A new camera (I'm a bit partial to Canon. Can anyone give any suggestions on a model they use/prefer?)


Fiskars Apron Lace border punch


Studio Calico's Home Front collection


Slippers



Wedgewood Signet Platinum China (to add to what we didn't get from the wedding.)



Elizabeth Kartchner's Book, 52 More Scrapbooking Challenges



Lisa Leonard "Be Still" necklace



Making Memories Slice



Longchamps Bag

And some other bits such as a heather gray scarf, hat and glove set, earrings, and the Cosmo Cricket boyfriend chip alphas (can anyone get these anywhere?!) Oh I hope that I've been good enough for all of these goodies!

What have you asked for this year?

Love & hugs,

Giving thanks

I didn't think I would be celebrating Thanksgiving this year for a few reasons. A) It isn't a holiday in the U.K.; B) I had to work until 6pm on Thanksgiving; and C) We are going out of town this weekend, so I couldn't even postpone the big dinner. However, I switched shifts with a co-worker today and only work until 4pm now, so decided that I could swing a Thanksgiving dinner! We rushed out to the store this evening to get everything we needed, only to come back to the house and find out we had two more joining us! A total of 8! A bit stressful, but I think I have just enough green bean casserole & herb stuffing to go around. I got a few things done tonight, so tomorrow I mainly have to worry about the turkey, gravy, potatoes & yeast rolls. I can do that in 3 1/2 hours, right?

The photo above is of Simon's pate brisee (he was in charge of the pumpkin pie tonight) in the pie plate. I am really terrible at making a perfectly fluted crust, but he is amazing! He will be making all of the pies from now on. He has a background in ceramic arts, and I guess dough isn't that different than clay!

What did you have to get finished tonight for the big day tomorrow? I hope you haven't stayed up as long as I have!

Love & hugs,

A card crazy week!

Thank you so much for your really nice comments about my Christmas cards. It totally made my day! I'm trying to be really positive about New Orleans, too! We could know a transfer date by next week! In the meantime, I really need to sort out air shipment of my scrapbook stuff to my parents house! ('Cause you know I can't wait for that stuff to come over on a boat!)

Just a note for those of you who were wondering, my signature stamp was given to me for my birthday by my fantastic friend Melissa. She had it made at Paper Source, I beleive. It is really one of the best gifts I have ever received, and I think it makes my cards look so professional!

Both of Simon's maternal first cousins are celebrating birthdays this week. I made cards for both; one you've already seen with the trendy trees. I finished the female card last night, and I love it so much that it is hard to put it in the mail today! Hope you enjoy!


Supplies: Cardstock- Bazzill & Paper Mill Shop; Patterned paper- Creative Imaginations & KI Memories; Punches, stamps, ink & glitter- Stampin' Up!; Glossy accents by Ranger; Flowers- Making Memories; Brad- from stash.

Thanks so much to Anne for letting me use her cupcake stamp set!

Finito!

My Christmas cards are finished, but I still need to write them out, which always takes a long time. This year, I put a little verse in the card, so I won't have to feel that I need to write so much!




Supplies: Cardstock- Stampin' Up!, Bazzill, Paper Mill Shop; Punch- Martha Stewart; Stamps, ink & glitter- Stampin' Up!; Rhinestones- Kaiser Craft; Versamark; Fonts- Swiss 721 & Ali's Hand

Simon had a phone interview today which didn't go as planned. It seems that he doesn't have the experience for the position that they're filling at the moment, but they will pass his resume on to other departments. We got our hopes up about this one, as it was outside of Chicago, the city that we really want to live in. Does anyone have anything positive to say about New Orleans that could bring my spirits up a bit, because it seems that is where we may end up. I'm so confused at the moment about what track my life is suppossed to go on. I started out being really focused and happy with my career, then moving here to the U.K. changed that. What happens if I can't get it back even if we move to the U.S.? What happens if Simon hates New Orleans? I wish someone could give me the answers! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

Love & hugs,

Weekend in review & please say a prayer

Sunday night came too quickly. I'm currently going through my photos from the weekend and thinking, "Don't the weekends always seem too short?" Although the weather was terrible, and we didn't get any Christmas shopping done, the weekend was still a success. On Friday night, I had a couple of friends over to start our Christmas cards. The evening included

Homemade pizza

Cupcakes (made my Anne, tres magnifique!)

Chocolate-glazed pumpkin cookies. I made them, but Martha has to take the credit.

And a bit of card making.

Anne & Miranda busy creating cards.

Saturday was a wash-out, and we tried (in vain) to find somewhere to get interesting Christmas presents. We went to a craft fair, which turned out to be the exact same craft fair with the same exhibitors that we had gone to a month ago. We eventually gave up on shopping, watched Public Enemies (I heart Johnny Depp) at about 4pm and ate sushi in the evening. I tried soft-shell crab rolls for the first time, and I loved them!

Today, we woke up again to a downpour, but by noon the sun had come out. We took the opportunity to take a long walk in the common near our house.

Other than that, I've been working on my Christmas cards most of the day. I can't wait to show them off once they're finished!

I have just a couple of creative items that I want to share with you just in time for gift-giving (passed on from Tania's blog.)

These fantastic wristlet keychains.

Photo courtesy of Eddie Ross.

An amazing and inexpensive ornament wreath. I'm looking forward to making two of these with my mom once I get home for Christmas!

Also, if I could ask a favor from all of you. Could you please say a little prayer for Simon around 8am EST on Monday, November 23rd? He may have a big opportunity for a position in the U.S., but we need all the prayers we can get for this to happen!

Love & hugs,