Mom's bracelet

Tonight was the big meal with Hubby's family. I couldn't taste anything :(
Not only was my cold really bad today, I was also sick last night. I was wondering if I should even go tonight. But I phoned ahead of time and Joy really wanted me to be there.

Before we went Hubby and the girls made me open a gift. I am a firm believer in not opening gifts until Christmas morning. But being married to my Hubby, they always opened their gifts the night before. I am not sure if it is a Finn thing, or that his parents just didn't want to get up early, lol.
Well they were very adamant that I open it. Well it was this pretty blouse. It is beautiful, it has intricate beading all through it. Ashley gave me a tank top to wear underneath it as it was very low cut. Very low cut.

Here is a picture of my oldest brother Darrell and I. Remember Darrell married Hubby's sister, that is why he was there as well, we both have the same relatives on both sides of the family.
Boy I'm tiny, lol.
To make me feel better he squatted down. The story of my life, lol.
This is my mom's charm bracelet. My mom wanted me to have it when she passed away, she told me this since I was a little girl. My dad (step) bought this for my mom early on in their marriage. It only had one charm on it, the Christmas tree. I don't think I ever remember my mom wearing it.
Sometimes I would go in her jewelery box take out the red velvet box, and feel it. I loved the feel of that box. Then I would open the box and lovingly stare at the bracelet. I thought it was the most beautiful thing my mom owned.
When she passed away and my dad gave it to me, I cried.
Hubby took me shopping to pick out some charms that next Christmas.
I chose the double heart, to represent my mom and me.
I chose the 3 little hearts, to represent my 3 daughters.
I chose the dove, in hopes that my mom is at peace now.
I don't wear the bracelet that often, as it is so special to me,but I do wear it every Christmas.

So we enjoyed our evening with Hubby's family. Lots of laughs, food and good company.
Hope you take in the season, and just enjoy the people around you.

Tracy

Cupcakes and drugs.

I was woken up early by my daughter Ashley. She was insistent the I get a new Christmas outfit. I think her hidden agenda was to get herself some outfits with her Christmas bonus.
So off we went to the mall. I was surprised that it wasn't busy at all.
So I think we hit every clothing store in the mall. I tried on so many outfits I was getting discouraged. You know (or maybe you don't) when you are carrying a few extra pounds around (like 10) and you hate everything you try on.
On the other hand Ashley looked cute in everything she tried on. Plus lots of stores had 50% off on every item.
Well as it turned out I finally found a blouse that didn't look to bad on me, plus 50% off. I could live with it.


I also promised Ashley we would make her cupcakes today. These are the trial version.
Here are her Red Velvet Cupcakes. I would love to tell you that they are delish, but I have no taste buds due to this cold.
These are coconut cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Again everyone says that they are really good.
They were both a lot of work. I would have bought a package mix and been done with it:) I just thought that I would show you how I display my Christmas cards. I hang them off this greenery I put up at Christmas. I just punch a whole in the back of the card and poke a branch through it. Sorry about the picture, I should have taken it during the day.
Onto my day:

Well I told you about my day, besides Ashley dyeing my hair. All the grey is gone again, just like magic. So I will tell you about my night. I never take any kind of pills, that is just me. But hubby convinced me to take some cold meds last night. Now if you know me, I take an aspirin and I am down for the count, lol. So last night I kept having the same dream. I was a spy and there were hidden messages in my Candy Poppers video, and I had to decipher them. LOL. It was like I just kept rewinding my dream, drove me crazy. You think I am watching to much Alias? teehee.

Thankful Thursday:

1. That I found a blouse to wear at Christmas

2. That my hair is coloured for the holidays

3. Hubby is home tomorrow

4. My girls and Wayne are all home for the holidays, no work, no school, just family.

5. That my girls still like to spend time with me.

What are you thankful for today?

Tracy

A Nothing Day.

Today was a nothing day. You know those days. The day goes by in a heartbeat and nothing gets accomplished. Well that was my day today.
All the girls were home. Hubby was at work. My daughters and I tidied up the house, watched a movie, that I didn't plan on watching, and ordered a pizza for supper. Before I knew it the day was over.

I did go out shopping with my friend tonight. I was thinking on just staying home because of my cold, but I pushed through and picked up a few things.

Here is our Christmas Tree, all lite up, with a few gifts under it. We still like to wait until Christmas Eve to put most of the gifts out. Sometimes we will put a gift out just to keep the girls on their toes. You know they still notice when we put a new gift under the tree, lol.
Here is my mug of choice for tonight, for my tea and honey. Hubby had tea with me again tonight. Even though I don't like or drink coffee, I do like mugs. So if we are on vacation or at a specialty shop and I see one that catches my eye, I will pick it up. But I have to really love it. This one here, my Aunt Carol gave me. She knows I love my chocolate. (see how I staged some chistmas ornaments around it, ohhh are you impressed with my photography skills, lol)
When I was driving back from shopping with Deb, this is what the moon looked like. Of course my pictures don't do it justice. It was huge, and there were hazy clouds around it.
This one is really blurry, but it shows the clouds better.
So tonight we are watching "Alias" again.
I can't believe that we haven't watched one Christmas movie yet this year. We always watch a Christmas movie a night, and we love our Christmas movies.
My favourite is The Christmas Story, I just love it. I always tear up at the end when the dad is watching the son pour the BB's in the gun.

So what is your favourite Christmas movie?

Tracy

Candy Poppers and purses

I did another video.

I make these candy poppers every year. They are so easy to make and you can use up some of your scraps, or wrapping paper. I give these as little extras, for the children that we exchange gifts with. I also give some to the neighbourhood children.

Hubby and I bought the DVD series "Alias". We have never watched it before. We bought the whole series, it was pretty cheap. Plus I love to see women kick men's ass, so this was perfect:) We are now addicted. We try to squeeze a few episodes in every day. But he goes back to work tomorrow, so we will have to wait to watch some more when we gets home, or is off again.

So as we were watching "Alias", I made some more purse gift card holders. You know I can't just watch TV, I have to do something creative as well. It just feels like I am wasting time if I am not multi-tasking. These purses are so cute, I just love them. They can hold 2 gift cards in each purse. Oh see the black polka dot one in the background? That is for my daughter Heather. She does not use a purse and I don't think she ever will. Her favourite colour is black, so I am hoping that this is acceptable for her.
Still fighting this cold. I seems to be winning. I have rested, drank my tea and honey, and am taking it easy. I don't like to take medication, stubborn I know, but that is the way I am. Yes Becky, I am even using the "Think Healthy" method, to try and beat it. It isn't at its worst yet and am hoping I can cut off before that point. Here is my mug tonight for my tea and honey. Hoping this will put me in the Christmas spirit.
Onto my day:

Kristy never gets to go out for lunch as she is at school when I take the other girls out. So she is on Christmas Break, since Monday, and I promised her I would take out for lunch. Just her and I. So we went to Montana's for lunch. On the way there my jeep binged. It was my gas gauge. Hubby was out last and didn't fill it up....Thanks honey :P

Proud Tuesday:

1. I made my gift card holders

2. I made my candy poppers

3. Went out for lunch with my daughter

4. Took a nap when I needed it.

So what have you done today to make you feel proud.

Hope you Monday was a creative one.

Tracy

Tea and Honey

Today was a tea and honey kind of day. With a nap thrown in.
I still believe that I can beat this cold before it gets to bad. Denial you ask? Maybe, but sometimes denial keeps you sane. Think about it ;)

I don't drink coffee. I hate the taste, I even hate the smell. Hot chocolate on the other hand is my drink of choice on a cold night to comfort me.
This is my favourite cup. Love the sentiment.
No hot chocolate tonight, its tea and honey. Hubby doesn't drink coffee either. My SIL bought us a coffee maker for Christmas one year, so when she comes over she can have coffee.
Tonight hubby had a tea with me. Here is the cup I gave him ;) So Ashley wanted to make some of those Peanut Butter Balls for the people she works with. The last batch is all gone :0 So I told her what to do and she started off good. This is what she ended up doing. Yup I finished it for her. Told you I was a push over. Either that or I just take over. Actually I think its a bit of both.
A few of you lovely ladies have asked me how to make those Chocolate covered Peanut butter Balls. Well here it is.

2 cups peanut butter

1/2 cup butter

3 cups powdered sugar

3 cups Rice Krispies

Mix these ingredients together. Then on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper, form into 1/2" balls. (Next time I would make them even smaller) Then put them in the freezer to chill.

Melt your chocolate, which ever kind you prefer. I used Merkins light chocolate wafers.

Then dip your peanut butter balls into the chocolate and re chill.

Easy peasy double squeezie :)

Hope you Monday was a creative one. I did make a couple gift card purses tonight.

Tracy

Its a Wrap and some Snowman Soup.

I finally got around to making my snowman soup. I do this every year and give it out to anyone who stops by for a Christmas visit, or I send them to neighbours and friends.

Kristy and her boyfriend, Blake. They exchanged gifts today. Today was spent wrapping presents. Hubby and I spent most of the day doing this. We kicked the girls downstairs and brought everything into the dinning room. So much better than sitting on the bedroom floor Christmas eve, which is what we usually do. My back won't be crying tomorrow ;)

Even Rose got in on the wrapping, teehee. Well for the last few weeks or maybe closer to a month now, I have been feeling a cold coming on. So I would eat some onions and nap when I was tired. Well today I think it caught up to me. Grrr. I have been hot then cold....and no it isn't hot flashes! Plus I can feel it in my chest. So I did take a nap after wrapping gifts. Actually I had to, I was so drained I couldn't even make sense when I talked. OK so that's nothing new.

I finally got my parcels all ready to be shipped. I will put them in the mail 1st thing tomorrow. Then I will feel a bit better about being caught up.

So off to bed for me. Oh did you all watch Survivor?! So happy Fabio won. Heather and I were rooting for him :)

Hope your weekend was a creative one.

Tracy

2010 card video and some chocolate balls.

Just thought you might want to see a video I did of the cards I made this year. Well actually I guess you can call it a slide show, as I enveloped all the cards before I remembered I wanted to do this.

I am so proud of myself, I added music to it. Ya I'm that good, LOL. If you know my computer skills you would be laughing right along with me on this one.

Today was the cookie exchange at my friend Crystal's house. This is the second year she has had one. I made Peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate. Don't you just want to drink this stuff?

How do you like my home made double boiler :) ?

Ya I am messy when I am in the kitchen. Unfortunately no one has banned me from this room yet.

Here are the finished products. They are really good. I should have made them half this size. The family thought they were perfect. But I would have liked them smaller. They were made with my small scoop, so they are about 1" balls.

Here is how I packaged them up this year. A couple of years ago I bought this gift box paper pack kit. I don't have the tag, bags, boxes and more cartridge so I got this. I figured I could use these as templates when the actual boxes are all gone. Yup 12 of these little suckers fit in here.

Here is how I packaged them up last year. I made butterscotch confetti squares, so YUMMY.
These boxes I made from scratch. I got the idea from a fellow You Tuber. I don't' remember who, as I didn't have a YouTube or a blog then, and I didn't know how to save things to my favourites. I've come along way baby, lol.
Aren't they pretty. From scratch I tell ya.So onto my day:

Hubby went to our camp/cottage to plow the roads. He asked (wanted) me to come. But my bed was warm and I knew I had lots to do today, so I stayed home. I made my Peanut butter balls and ran out of chocolate, so had to run out and pick up some. Grrr I hate when that happens. Actually that is all I did today. The day is short when you get to sleep in, but oh so worth it :)

I didn't get my parcel's in the mail today. But I almost got my cards in. I had them with me when I went out. Can you believe I forgot to mail them!

Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Tracy