Happy Birthday Grandma!

Happy New Year's Eve!

The eve of the new year has many of us considering what has happened over the past year and what resolutions to make for the upcoming year. These were my resolutions for 2008:

...there's nothing like a fresh new year,like freshly fallen snow undisturbed by any footprints, to consider what's important and resolve to make a new start. Really, if you don't take advantage of a unmarred new year to make some resolutions for change, when can you?

So here they are, in print:

Eat more healthfully(and lose weight in the process).

Go to Curves at least two times per week(I've gone twice since Christmas!).

Add journalling and file my scrapbook pages as I go rather than letting them pile up(this means clearing the back log from 2007!).

And that's it, if I keep my resolutions to a manageable three, I'll be able to stick to them right?

And I am happy to say that I was able to stick to 2 out of the three.........

Yes, I now have a back log of scrapbook pages from 2007 and 2008 to journal and file!

I'll be back tomorrow to post my resolutions for 2009.....hmmm, I wonder what the first one will be.............

Until then, I wish you all a happy New Year's Eve, may your celebrations be safe!

Altered Paper Clips

Just before Christmas(and am now finally posting) I was able to alter these dollar store magnetic paper clips:



into this:



I envision using them to hold receipts, recipes, photos or cards. And while these are Christmas themed, the paperclips could be altered to any theme or season. Hmmm, I think Valentines themed paper clips might be nice. I wonder if I can find more of these clips?

I'm Back!

After a bit of a blog break I'm back with some fun pics from Christmas!

We had a great Christmas with friends and family and I was totally spoiled.

I've had a chance to relax,knit, get caught up on watching The Tudors and scrapbook.

I've also taste tested some of the new cookies and squares I made this season and will definitely share a few of the recipes soon.

I hope you all had a great Christmas too!

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

And in the spirit of the season, here's a few shots of Christmas at my house.

A New Favourite

I picked up this tea at the grocery store because I liked the idea of candy cane tea, that its made with green tea is a healthful bonus. I must admit I wasn't sure about it because I don't really like green tea all that much. Although I think I should, kind of like how I think I should like polenta but don't, anyway I digress.

But I do like this tea. The primary flavourings of peppermint and vanilla come together nicely leaving no green tea aftertaste. And Steve a regular green tea drinker also like this tea.

So if you're looking for a seasonal decaf tea, this may be the one!

Have a great day!

A Quick Hostess Gift

Here's quick hostess gift idea.



Decorate the lids of chocolates with seasonal papers and embellishments.

Its a great way to use up scraps and impress your hostess with your creativity!

Last Minute Decorations

I had fun this past weekend using some cranberries, cedar, snowball candles, tealights, ball ornaments and votives to create some quick decorations.

This arrangement is on a pedestal cake plate and is in the middle of my kitchen table.



Tealights, cranberries and cedar nestled on a pretty plate make another nice arrangement.



As they do in crystal cream and sugars(a take on an idea I saw on Camellia Cottage).





Then adding a bit of cedar to a votive holder also looks festive(but take the cedar out before lighting the candle ).



Have a great day everyone , enjoy your Christmas preparations!

Snow Photos (and Some Other Random Photos)

Here's some photos I took while outside today.

My urn absolutely covered in snow!



Top of our fence panel.



A snowman for sure!



Hydrangea.



Garden bench.



Various trees.






The Littliest Christmas Tree!



Steve shovelling again!



And now for the random photos.

Newly installed shutters!



Brittany creating Christmas gift tags.