A Little Remembering…

 

2011 was a crazy, messed up, dramatic, awesome, wonderful year full of new, scary and exciting things. And of Course in 2011 I started this blog :) So I thought I’d do a little blog remembering today and a little Life Remembering tomorrow :)

I started this blog in July this year, mostly because I’d gotten addicted to reading other people’s craft/DIY blogs and wanted a place to share my projects and partly because I wanted friends and family back home to be able to keep up on my Life in Texas.

I’ve found a new sort of “family” in the bloggy world and I am so happy that I have!

Now without further ado, some of my top posts and some of my favorites!

TOP VIEWED POST: A Fall Wreath… Finally

It still surprises me that this made up creation of mine has received so many hits and such wonderful feedback!

 

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROJECTS: Solids Only Tote Challenge

I had a lot of fun connecting with other challenge participants and coming up with this fun bag!

 

Another favorite project of mine and a quite popular post: Lovin Me Some Rags!

Those are just a small taste of some of the things I’ve done this year. There will be LOTS of fun, creative, new things coming up in the new year :)

in 2012 look for…

• Wedding posts (getting married soon!)
• Info about sponsoring
• A new weekly link party
• Guest posts (message me if you’re interested in guest posting or swapping posts!)
• AWESOME giveaways!
• All kinds of creativity… who knows what I’ll come up with next?

Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of A Little Remembering… My life :)

Hello Again :)

 

I’m back a few days earlier than expected :)

I had a FANTASTIC Christmas, and I am excited to share it with you. Not to mention that I just flippin missed all my bloggy pals :)

Christmas came a little early for Mule and I since we found out he was going to have to work Christmas day. So on the 21st we ended up opening all our presents. And I have to say I am one SPOILED girl!

First Pictures of the tree and all the lovely, retro paper wrapped gifts :) My Mother-in-Law to be is awesome and has enough awesome retro Christmas paper to last at least 4 or 5 more Christmases

That’s me… all excited on “Christmas” morning :) You may notice that some of these pictures were taken with my new iPhone! :D Can you say Happy girl?

The stuff I got from My Mr.! Yes that is a JoTote bag!!!! If only you could have seen me dancing around the living room with my new camera bag/purse! I was happy enough with just that let alone all the other awesome ness I was blessed with :) New comfy slippers, some clothes, a Tinkerbelle 2012 Calendar, a warmer and some scentsy waxes (I *HEART* Scentsy!) from my In-laws to be, a new cutting mat, and a PEARL SET! Like I said… SPOILED!

It doesn’t look like Mule got that much, but he was wearing some of his new stuff when I took this pic, and he got a new truck box that he’s wanted for ages. Yes that is a Deep Fryer, his Mom got it for him, and I’ve already cooked dinner with it 4 times. He also got a new iPhone.

Christmas Eve I did some more baking to keep myself occupied. That was a tough night. Mule was at work, and I was home feeling extremely home sick! I got to talk to my Mom and some siblings for a while and that definitely helped.

Mule ended up spending Christmas day at home with me. even though he was supposed to work. He hit a COW at 3 o’clock in the morning, totaling his work truck. He was really sore, but was other wise fine. I was just happy he was ok… and I definitely wasn’t complaining that he was home either!

We had a yummy breakfast (crescent rolls are a Must Have!) and I gave him the last gift I had for him. He didn’t get it on our “Christmas” because I wasn’t finished fixing it yet. I purchased a gold chain and fixed an eagle pendant that had belonged to his grandfather. I knew it was really important to him, but he’s never been able to wear it since the top connection piece was broken and needed to be replaced. He won’t admit it, but I’m pretty sure I saw a misty eye when he opened the box :)

We also went at looked at Christmas lights around town and them came home to have our version of a Christmas “toast”, Welch’s sparkling grape juice in Mule’s Grandmother’s crystal wine glasses. A perfect ending to a wonderful day filled with new and old traditions

I figured that was the end of Christmas, but then on Wednesday, Mule decided to go to the pound. We couldn’t leave with out this little darling. His name is Scoot, he’s about 3 months old and is one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever met. We have no idea what kind of dog he is (ideas anyone?), but he’s not going to get very big, maybe 12-15 pounds and that’s OK with us :)

I can' easily say, that with the exception of desperately missing my family and friends, this has been one of my best Christmases ever!

Now onto all that 2012 has to offer!

Happy Holidays!!

I’ll be back…

 

Said in my best Arnold impersonation :)

 

Christmas is 5 days away I’ve got a billion things to do and I’ve been sick the past 2 days :( I’ve decided to take a break from blogging for the rest of the Holidays. I wasn’t planning on it, but with everything I want to do, I kind of feel I need to.

I’ll be back NEXT YEAR! Where did 2011 go? Seriously????

In the new year I am planning…

My wedding, so there will be posts about that.
To have a weekly link party :) So excited about it!!
Fun tutorials!
I’ll also be having lots of guest posts (email me if you’re interested in posting!!!)
I’m going to be looking into starting with sponsors (any advice?)
And fun GIVEAWAYS!!!! Who doesn’t love giveaways!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and May this next year be your best!

 

Love Jennifer

Oh Christmas Wreath

 

Oh Christmas Wreath, Oh Christmas Wreath
you look so lovely on my door!

Hehehe :)

I’ve been working on my new front door wreath for a little while now and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!

Using some red and white yarn that had a little bit of a shimmer to it, I crocheted a 4 in wide and 3ish feet long scarf type thing.

I didn’t worry about working in the ends as I went

I crocheted the ends of the scarf together to make a big loop and wrapped the loop around a frame I had painted white and distressed, but never used. Using a glue gun, I glued the two sides of the “Scarf” to the frame, trimmed the ends added a few sparkly snow flakes and Voila! A super lovely Christmas wreath!

Easy Peasy Pie

Want to know the easiest, yummiest pie you could ever make?

Lemon Cream Cheese pie!

You only need 3 things!

A can of lemon pie filling, a brick of cream cheese and a graham cracker pie crust. That’s it!

Put half of the can of pie filling and 2/3’s of the cream cheese in a medium size pot and slowly heat. It doesn’t need to be cooked, just warmed in order to combine the two.

Mix in the pot over low heat until totally combined.

Pour the cream cheese mix into the pie crust.

Pour the remainder of the lemon pie filling from the can onto the top of the pie as the top layer.

Stick in the fridge for at least 2 hours to cool. Slice and Serve :)

I may have been too excited to let it cool long enough before I sliced into this bit of yumminess.

 

Happy Thursday!

Notice Something different?

 

Well that might be because I have a Totally New Blog Look!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell I’m excited? Can ya? Can ya? Can ya?

Well that might be some of the sugar talking, but honestly I am thrilled with the new look! Like dancing on my desk happy!

Recently I joined some other bloggers for a Pre Holiday Swap hosted by Faith from the Bartering Blogger. It was through the swap that I met Branson, blogger extraordinaire and the creative genius behind my new lay out! And my new go to gal for all things technically inclined :)

Seriously I can’t say thank you to Branson enough! I never in a million years would have been able to do what she’s done here! Well maybe in a million years, but I likely would have tossed the laptop through the window long before I figured out how to make it look this good!

Branson… YOU ROCK!!!

The Stockings where hung by the Chimney with care…

 

Well we don’t have a chimney, heck we don’t even have a fireplace, but the stockings are in place. I whipped up a stocking for Mule and I last night from so fabric I had on hand and scraps left over from my Christmas Quilt.

They’ll be perfect on Christmas morning stuffed with goodies.

And here’s our tree (no flash, flash and no lights on). We’ve got some old school bubble lights going on. there are a few recently wrapped presents under the tree :) Mule’s mom has a whole bin of wrapping paper, so we’re gone with a vintage wrapping theme.

This is the Christmassy corner of the house. That’s pretty much all that’s gotten decorated (so far?). I might get around to putting up more decorations.

I’m almost done the wreath for the front door :) Will post soon!

 

Happy Wednesday

Heart Therapy:

Ashley from Eisy Morgan had been hosting Heart Therapy, an opportunity to open up and honestly examine ourselves. I’ve been meaning to participate for the past few weeks, and this week I’m doing it!

Here is what Ashley challenged us with…

“ This week we are making an I am list...

As I have been working through some thoughts and a few books to help me, one suggested making a list of what I see as my strengths and positive characteristics. So often I focus only on how I don't measure up, and this isn't about being prideful or cocky, just remembering the strengths and gifts we have or have to offer the world!”

Here is my List…

I am :

a good friend
a great fiancé
fiercely loyal
beautiful (although I forget this a lot)
creative
brave
Talented
smart (despite being a natural blonde)
a people person
a good cook
empathetic
wise
strong
passionate
irreplaceable
Awesome

 

It took me longer that I thought to come up with that list. Far too often I berate myself for things I feel I lack. Life is busy, there are a lot of demands on our time and I think we forget about who we were created to be. I find myself wishing I was someone else, had their talents or gifts and think that I am not good enough.

I am enough!

Ornament Exchange

 

Back at the end of October, Eisy Morgan had sign ups for an ornament exchange. I, of course, signed up!

I got partnered with Carrie, a fellow Texan and, I am happy to say a new friend :) She sent me this darling mercury glassed bird. Its my favorite ornament on my tree and has a place of honor near the top :)

 

Isn’t it darling? I absolutely love it and it will be a treasured part of my new Christmas traditions in Texas :)

Want to see what I made for Carrie? Check out this post on her blog :)

I Finally Made It!

 

Vendor Permit… Check!

Truck full of handmade goodies… Check!

3 blankets and a 6 layers of clothing… Check!

Get up ridiculously early, on a ridiculously cold day… Check!

But it was all worth it :) I finally got to participate in the local, monthly market!

I didn’t make a ton of sales, but I covered my costs and had a fun day connecting with other local vendors and meeting people in my community.

There will be new things going up in the etsy shop over the next few days :)

Crazy Busy!!

 

I had all these grand plans to be organized and productive in the few days I have left leading up to the Market I’ve got a booth at this weekend.

Surprise! Its not happening!

So even though I have posts planned and pictures taken, I’m not going to be posting in the next couple days. There is just way to much to do, clean, price, pack and organize! Wanna help me?

I’ll be back on Monday with all the juicy details of the weekend and pictures too!

 

I’ll leave you with a little giggle…