by Sharon | Dec 23, 2017
Oh yes, it has finally arrived!!!
Many are traveling, many are anxiously awaiting family and friends . . . Oh yes, there will be the last minute shoppers . . . and those getting their groceries . . . and there may be a bit more tidying about the house . . . 
I’ll be doing laundry . . . Want my dining table tablecloth to be fresh and may need to iron it, too . . . along with my place settings and napkins. And, of course there are the gift box place settings . . .
It has been quite busy.
Today I want to post on my other four websites . . . plus I want to do some papercrafts just for fun . . . and organizing my craft room just a bit.
Having an inviting place to sit and reflect is what I enjoy.
A nice cup of hot chocolate in your favorite chair in front of the fireplace is ideal.
There are plenty of memories made in this room . . . and there are many more to come.
For me it isn’t about getting everything perfect . . . which is pretty much impossible, by the way . . . it is about being comfortable and enjoying Christmas. I do like the old family traditions . . . and the new ones created through the years.
I’m into comfort . . . not stress . . . not anxiety . . . For me it is more of what is, is . . . if others wanted or expected something more . . . well, that is not my problem . . .
I’ve watched many Christmas movies over the years . . . and there is always chaos . . .
It is best to just relax and enjoy.
Have a Merry Christmas with your family and friends . . . and if you happen to be alone this Christmas . . . enjoy it . . . cater to what you enjoy . . . be happy and blessed . . . This is a time of celebration which can be shared or enjoyed alone . . . Just do what makes you happy and joyous.
Too often we get caught up in the Hallmark picture perfect world . . . that is a beautiful Christmas card . . . but we are in the real world . . . and we can fill our thoughts and hearts with our own “perfect” Christmas experiences . . . there are several precious moments you can recall and enjoy . . .
Enjoy your Christmas Eve Eve.
Sharon
by Sharon | Oct 5, 2017
I’m always torn at this time of year whether to focus upon Halloween or think ahead to purchasing Christmas gifts.
Well, it’s worthwhile to follow-up on any “great deals.”
It is essential that we check out sales throughout the year. We should not get hung up on the time of year, but what gifts we need to give throughout the year and actively seek out the best deals.
Let’s face it, giving gifts throughout the year for family and friends can get expensive.
It is essential to focus on bargains.
Sometimes we can’t plan ahead for kids who absolutely want something one day and could care less about it a few days to a week or month later.
So, in some cases, planning ahead won’t pay off. Be sure to keep up-to-date with the interests of the children in your life. That includes adult children, too. We’re all changing our mind.
I was really excited about buying a GoPro camera.
I was close to making the purchase. 
What stopped me?
I had a camera I wasn’t using regularly and thought it best to learn the camera I had than to run out and buy another camera that I may or may not use.
Sometimes it is good to slow down and think through your purchases.
I’m not promoting any products in this post.
I’m just thinking about gifts and projects for the upcoming holidays.
I love making paper crafts. This includes cards and treat boxes.
In some ways it is necessary to have the right tools and equipment to make my project creation and mass production done in a timely manner. I do have many necessary tools and products to create just about anything I desire for the holidays.
I’m finding it is about using my time wisely and getting things accomplished in a timely manner. I know for Halloween, I’ll be making hundreds of gift boxes. I must begin now to mass produce these. Then when that project is completed, I move on to Thanksgiving and then to Christmas. I do like making hostess gift boxes and filling them with goodies. This is something I do and enjoy.
I do use templates and use my Silhouette Cameo to cut out these templates for me. This is a major time saver. It gives me time to embellish them and have them ready when the “event” comes around for me to fill them with treats.
I also have dies I use with my Big Shot to cut out templates of boxes. This seems more hands on, but it, too, saves me time.
And there are times I do love cutting things out and putting them together one at a time. It all depends upon my mood and how rushed I feel.
It’s wonderful to have technology to make your life easier.
I would be lost without my laptop.
And many of you are now thinking of items you could not live without. 
I know at one time — years ago, how a microwave oven was a major life improvement. I even remember when having a telephone not on a party line was a big deal . . . Many of you may not know what I’m talking about.
I’m not that attached to my cell phone, but I do marvel how others are able to do everything on their smart phones.
Technology is here to stay and will only get bigger and better.
Well enough of my rambling this morning.
Sharon
by Sharon | Dec 19, 2016
Wow!! Where has the time gone?
Christmas is upon us with the New Year coming up fast.
Amazing how I can look back to this summer and yearning for fall. Then, it finally came and Whoosh! we’re into winter.
I belong to an internet marketing group where someone asked if we were taking Christmas Day off or working. Well, I know it is for celebrating with family, but I also know that working online I can celebrate and also work. That’s the beauty of the internet.
I got thinking about the New Year and spring . . . I’m really getting excited about spring . . . but I’m enjoying the weather we’re having now and the anticipation of Christmas, too.
It’s all exciting!
It’s all good . . . every season and everyday. There is always something fun and exciting to discover or finally decide to purchase.
I haven’t been much into rubber stamping or making cards, but I’m finding that I’m warming up to the idea.
I’m a fan of Tim Holtz and, of course, love my Sizzix Big Shot. The combining of the two in this set of stamps and die cuts has really gotten me excited.
Sizzix Framelits Dies Mini by Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and Things, Stampers Anonymous Mini Bird Crazy & Things Tim Holtz Cling Stamps,
Sizzix Framelits Mini Crazy Cats and Dogs Die Set, and not shown is the Tim Holtz Cling Stamps Mini Cats & Dogs by Stampers Anonymous.
I decided to go with the mini set because of the Village Dwellings I’m making and they go better with other stamp sets.
They work well for cards and mini albums and so very many other fun projects you may have throughout the year. There is always something exciting you can do with birds, cats and dogs. And, by all means feel free to get the regular sets of these as well.
Sizzix Franelits 18 Piece Bird Crazy Die Set, Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Bird Crazy Stamp Set, Sizzix Crazy Things Framelits Dies by Tim Holtz, Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamp Set Crazy Things, Sizzix Framelits Dies by Tim Holtz Crazy Cats, Stampers Anonymous Crazy Cats Tim Holtz Cling Stamps.
What about the dogs? Sizzix Franelits Crazy Dogs Die Set and Tim Holtz Cling Stamps Crazy Dogs by Stampers Anonymous.
Most people buy both the regular sets and the mini sets to go with their various projects.
I was going to say, if you hurry, you may be able to get these before Christmas, but you know something, I think it would be much more exciting to get them after Christmas . . . even if it is a gift for a special crafter in your family. You know why, because you’ll have something to look forward to receiving and so will your special crafter.
It’s all a matter of perspective, actually. You want ’em for Christmas . . . click the links!!!! Otherwise relax and don’t get all uptight about when it will arrive — it will arrive when it arrives!!
I do thank you for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Nov 25, 2016
I still have Thanksgiving leftovers!!!
Does Black Friday kick off the Christmas Season . . . or when the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone?
Or is it when you bring in your Christmas tree?
It seems many of us prepare for Christmas throughout the year. There’s that popular Christmas in July thing in which many people participate. And there are always those of us who need to “feel like Christmas” in order to get into the spirit of it.
I know some love to do things at the last minute. It’s their thing.
And there are those of us who are always surprised, “It’s Christmas already?”
Well, Christmas is coming if we’re ready or not!!!
So, I guess we might as well jump on board.
We do, however, have a little while before December. That seems to be the turning point for me to get geared into the Christmas thing. I know there are many getting in on the Black Friday deals and decorating their homes. Some Christmas lights are going up in my neighborhood. They’re quite eager to get Christmas coming.
I do wonder about all of this.
I may be a bit of a Scrooge . . . but I don’t mean to be. It seems the older I get, the slower I am to jump into the next season, holiday or otherwise. Yet, with a blog, it is important to be on-top of all of these festivities . . . They do seem to be coming at a fast pace . . .
I really am excited about Christmas, just as I was about Thanksgiving . . . and Halloween before that . . . Wow! Then there’s the New Year!!! Goodness!!! Time does go by quickly . . .
I’m sitting on my front porch, drinking a cup of coffee with my precious Yorkshire terrier on my lap watching the neighbors putting up their Christmas decorations . . . It amuses me, rather than motivates me to do the same . . .
Some are motivated by their family being here to give a hand . . .
It’s all good . . . even the neighbor down the street who left theirs up since last year . . . or was it the year before? They’re all set to just plug it in.
It’s always exciting to see what others are doing and to go out at night and see how the town has caught the spirit of Christmas as well. Some people do some elaborate displays.
I’m glad my neighborhood doesn’t do the competition thing as I’m sure you’ve seen in the movies. That seems to take all the fun out of decorating for Christmas . . . but that is merely my humble opinion.
However and whenever the Christmas bug bites you into shopping or decorating . . . Enjoy!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Sharon
by Sharon | Apr 11, 2016
We all seem to have a favorite holiday or holiday season.
The most popular are Halloween and Christmas in that order.
I do have a website of haunted stuff with ghost stories. I love them, as many do. I also have one of Christmas. Then, there’s this one that allows me to celebrate the holidays as they come. And, you may have noticed how I really do get into Halloween . . . it is my favorite season.
I’m not into the real creepy stuff with the violent make-up and gross food. It’s interesting how make-up can be applied to scare the living daylights out of you . . . I admire it, but it’s not something I would do.
If Halloween is for children, I’d go for the more mild fun stuff . . . but to each his/her own.
Yes, there is definitely humor in being scared . . . and children running around at night in costumes gathering sweet treats is all about the fun . . . yet, the idea of being out at night . . . the lit pumpkins with scary faces . . . the decorations of tomb stones . . . and witches, ghosts, skeletons and other scary stuff heightens the imagination.
Also going to the doors of stranger’s houses is a scary activity.
For me, it is about the children and their enthusiasm of getting all dressed up and going door to door collecting candy. And, if they scare each other along the way, it’s all in fun.
I love that parents are with their children. Some dress up in costume, too. Or, they’re with older siblings. Times have, unfortunately, changed and we need to make sure children have a safe Halloween experience.
Many people opt to have parties in their homes rather than allowing the kids to go out . . . this works out well. It is fun to gather friends together and have fun and games and maybe watch a Halloween DVD . . . and, of course, have some delicious food . . . it may look a little odd, but the taste is wonderful.
I haven’t noticed as many Christmas Carolers.
I’d love to hear them sing . . . going door to door.
One neighborhood church would have young and old alike singing carols throughout the neighborhood. You could join them, if you wanted to. It would turn into a rather large group.
Then, we’d have an impromptu pot luck dinner. We’d all contribute and share the news of the families. It was a nice way of getting caught up on marriages and births, graduations and jobs . . . we seemed to keep up with the sorrow of death . . . but it was a time of letting neighbors know we do care . . .
I enjoyed listening to the stories of different families . . . some could trace their ancestry way back . . . This was good for everyone to hear and there were history lessons involved, too. You had to understand the times, to understand the hardships and the joys . . . how how certain traditions developed and are practiced today.
Each and every one of us has a history . . . a story to tell . . . maybe about our ancestry . . . and our own story . . . from humble beginnings . . . and the opportunities we were given . . . and the decisions we’ve made . . . all shaping the life we now live.
Whatever, holiday or holiday season you enjoy . . . it’s wonderful to be with family and friends . . . and to share what you can about life and aspirations.
We all have a life and aspirations . . . it’s interesting to see how things work out.
Until next time,
Sharon
