Goodbye 2012!!

2012 has been a bittersweet year for myself and my family. We started the year off  with the birth of our son Timothy. He weighed in at 8 pounds and 2 ounces.

Timothy Brayden 1/6/2012

I  cannot believe that in a few days My little baby will be 1. We are planning a small party with family and close friends. If it is not to cold we will have it at a local park. Below is a photo of Mason kissing Baby Timothy.

This past year we also lost two of our beloved pets. I miss them so much, I am holding back the tears as I plow through the photos of these fur babies. First is our cat, Angel. My daughter received this cat when a girl knocked on our door and said her parents told her to get rid of the kitten, or they will kill her. I took the kitten. Mya named her Angel for her white fur reminded her a Angel wings. Mya was 5 at the time.

Angel laying in a box.

She was chased away by my in-laws dog. We could not find her in the woods, So I know she hid well and is smart enough to survive outside on her own. But we do miss her dearly.  Next my dog Bandit, he was  a horrible babysitter, but a wonderful friend. He was a loyal little guy.

Bandit, doing his best to beg for something.

Bandit would take any type of food you offered him, If he did not like it, he would hide it under his bed, or in the laundry basket. He loved Mason so much. Sadly Bandit was killed my the same dog that chased Angel away.

We are saving up to get Bandits son from my mom, He is a shaggy little guy that looks just like my Bandit. But it may be a while until we can pay for his shots and pet deposits.

I have been lucky enough to befriended many people this past year. Two that hold a special place in my heart is Lori Anderson and Patti Vanderbloemen. These two ladies have helped me out in many ways. I love them dearly. I was scared to death to ask Lori to do a bead swap with me. I see these women as Celebrities. She agrees and sent me some beautiful beads, I admit mine were not quite up to par. Patti has sent me beads, and books, and tools.

I actually have had many women gift me parts of their bead stash. I  threw out most of my old beads and cleaned out my plastic bead trays to hold these beautiful gifts. I still have a few empty trays. :)

I was also lucky enough to join the BSBP in 2012. Among other smaller and just as exciting bead swaps. I also signed for a  few "Pay It Forwards" I have about six more months to send mine out. :)
Below is what I received from those that I signed up for.

Another beautiful soul I have met this year is Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp. She has battled a  personal illness. And is in recovery. I love Marie to pieces. She is a kind soul that will do all she can to make everyone else smile. Lorelei Eutro is another splendid soul. She is an amazing designer and full of life. Unfortunately I have not met any of these women in person. But maybe I can in the future. 

I have also been lucky in contests this year. The first one I won was from Feng Beads, A beautiful string of handmade fraggle and spacer beads. From Marla James and Melinda Orr, I won a bracelet, I won a pair of books from Katie Hacker, The E-book from Lori Anderson, entitled "Follow the Path". 


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Christmas Day

I had a wonderful Christmas. I got to see my kids faces light up, and see Mason ignore all the hub-bub to watch television. Below you can see a few treasured photos from Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve Present.

Christmas Eve Present

Panda Head!!

Watching Timothy try to open everybody presents.

Being told he can only have one.

 Mason was allowed to play with the wagon for Christmas Eve, He went to bed earlier. He had a busy day playing with a friend.

Christmas Morning!!

Before the kids attacked it.

The ONLY thing she wanted for Christmas. A  Bamboo Drawing Tablet.

Santa bought both the boys a My Pal Scout. It is adorable.

Opening his Mega Blocks.

Caillou came on, and we were forgotten about..

Opening her body spray.

Drooling on a new toy.

Embarrassed by the personal care gifts.

Opening the boys Shared gifts, Mason left us to watch TV.

Opening her jackets, from Nana.

Came back to watch Caillou.. Not interested in his presents.

Not really wanting to open them.

Opens it to make parents happy.

Smiling at her Lemonade Mouth DVD

Still working on the same gift.

Playing with his toys.

Setting up the gift Mason took 20 mins to open.

Inspecting the Mega Block table.

Christmas is hard work.

Deciding if his toy is cooler, or brother rattle is..

Opening Timothy's present.. Mason is playing with the DVR.

Playing with the truck.

 I have video of this toy falling on Timothy when he started opening it. It scared him and he ran (crawled) away. He didn't care to open it anymore.

Playing with his new toy.

I hope you enjoyed looking at some of the photos I took. Sadly we took the tree down after gifts were opened. The boys would not leave the balls alone, if you look at the bottom of the tree photo, by the blue recliner, most of the balls are missing,  I will post the video at a later date. I will have two more blogs before the new year.

Merry Christmas

I am slowly wrapping up Christmas shopping. The rest is to make items for family members. I had a Guardian Angel this season. With out her my holiday would have not existed. In November Mark was let go from his job.

And this looked grim for the holidays. I will have two to three more blog posts before my year end review.  I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving Day Menu

Pineapple-Orange Cranberry Sauce

 So this is what I plan to make for Thanksgiving Lunch/Dinner.. :) I am so excited, This is Timothy's first thanksgiving and the first I am fully cooking on my own..

Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

 Mark also has requested to have a ham along with his turkey. And my daughter wants "Chicken" stuffing.

Rosemary Turkey

Sweet Potato Casserole

  We will also have Green Bean Casserole, Collard Greens and Corn Bread,  Mash Potatoes, Pumpkin Bars,

Fruit and Nut Salad

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!! I will be sure to snag photographs of the kids enjoying the meal.. I may also have some new to share after the holiday.. Nothing that can be discussed right now.

Baked Macroni

Friday

I should be packing. We are moving from our three bedroom apartment to a four bedroom apartment. I am excited and worried at the same time. I like the apartments but they are so old that in walls are block. And no carpet.. Yeap.. It is quite hard to keep the white tikes clean with two mobile babies. I need to invest in rugs..

Halloween was a quiet night. I did not give out candy. And tried to get my boys in costume.. They were not having that. I will post what few good pictures later this week.

I live the cooler seasons. But I ALWAYS get a cold sore/ fever blister.. I hate them. Glad I am basically a hermit and do not leave the house much..

I have added a few things to my etsy shop. I try to bead every night. That does not always work out. Lately I have been very depressed and insecure.

Lorelei's Blog: Unicorne Beads: A Giveaway

Lorelei's Blog: Unicorne Beads: A Giveaway: If you've been around the beading community a while, you've probably seen these tear-drop shaped beads from Unicorne Beads . These   Han...

Mismatch Art Bead Earring

I absolutely love these earrings from Jan Onipenco. She is a wonderful lampwork designer. I love teal and purples. The lampwork is teal and is also just as beautiful. Small crystals and a beautiful earwires.. I plan to write more on this blog, Once I get the little ones down for a nap. I believe I have to fix the links below.























Diana Ptaszynski  http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com
Lisa Liddy http://www.lisaliddy.wordpress.com
Kari Asbury  http://www.hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com
Jayne Capps  http://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Anderson  http://www.songbeads.blogspot.com
Lesley Watt  http://www.thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.com
Lori Bowring Michaud  http://www.artfullyornamental.blogspot.com
Renetha Stanziano  http://www.lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com
Holly Westfall   http://www.silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/
Theresa Fosdick  http://www.thoughtful-notions.blogspot.com/
Ali McCarthy  http://www.northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com
Shai Williams  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/
Iveth Caruso  http://www.CreativeAtelier.net
Carolyn Collins  http://www.sparklingwaterstudio.com
Elaine Ray  http://www.elaineray.blogspot.com
Kristen Stevens  http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Charlene Jacka  http://www.clay-space.com/blog
Jan Onipenco  http://www.MoltenMayhem.typepad.com
Stephanie Woods  http://www.rainydaysdesigns.com
Eleanor Burian-Mohr  http://www.cornerstoregoddessjewelry.blogspot.com
Shelby Foxwell  http://www.sundownbeaddesigns.blogspot.com
Pam Sears  http://www.crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com
Mary Harding  http://www.maryhardingjewelrybeadblog.blogspot.com
Lisa Johnson  http://www.Whimsyswonders.blogspot.com
Kashmira Patel  http://www.sadafulee.blogspot.com
Penny Neville  http://www.copperpennydesigns.blogspot.com
Dee Elgie  http://www.cherryobsidia.blogspot.co.uk
Sarah Small  http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com
Carolyn Lawson  http://www.Carolynscreationswa.blogspot.com
Karin Slaton  http://www.backstorybeads.blogspot.com
Ashleigh Becker  http://www.seladesignsjewelry.blogspot.com
Kay Hand  http://www.creativetangent.blogspot.com
Rana L. Wilson  http://definitivedesignsbyrwilson.blogspot.com
Sandra McGriff  http://www.skyescreativechaos.blogspot.com
Dawn Pierro  http://www.turtlemoondesigns.me
Shelley Graham Turner  http://www.shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com
Karen Mitchell  http://www.overthemoon-design.com
Melissa Trudinger  http://www.beadrecipes.wordpress.com
Iveth Caruso http://www.acreativeatelier@gmail.com
   

My Bead Table Blog Hop - Pine Ridge Treasures

I was lucky enough to have met Lisa about a year ago on a bead swap hosted by Lori Anderson. I befriended her and was lucky enough to have been one of the girls in her "Bead Table Blog Hop". I do not believe I took before photos, of just the beads.

Handmade jump rings and clasps.

 I slowely made items over the past few months. Between teenage drama, baby needs and a husband.. Not to mention general life getting in the way. I mostly created earrings. They are easy to whip up and can be done standing at the counter cooking meals.

Galvanized steel frame  with gold craftwire.

I am trying to make as much as possiable. But my muse is down in the depression dumps. Things will turn around and once they do, I will have more to post. Lisa sent me a beautiful mix of earthy tones, and the ceramic-stone type beads. They are a beautiful rich brown. I hope you have enjoyed my few designs.

Handemade paddle headpins and earwires.

Thank you Lisa for hosting the blog hop. I really enjoyed it!!

Happy Birthday Mason

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY MASON ZANE!!

In The Pink!

{Pay It Forward : Handmade}

I  met Lori when I started to follow her blog. I never thought we would have so much in comon. Over the yeari chatted and shared personal aspects of my world with her. I am  greatful to have such a good friend.



copyright - Lori Anderson
 

 Lori held the 5th BSBP and I did not get pinked, in the previous one I was a day or two late signing up.  I was lucky enough to get invited to her Facebook group. She then agreed to do a personal swap with me. I was stunned with the lovely assorment of beads that I revieved. Vintage Lucite and pearls. Lori has always been kind to me and helped me with problems.

I can see her driving around in this car.

Lori has been a flurish of non stop entertainment, she pushes herself beyond normal to provide for her followers. Even with her personal trials she gived 110% to her group and blog. I am so happy that I was able to join this years BSBP. I have made some amazing friends trough Lori and hope that our friendship lasts a long time.

She is always around play.

I was suppose to dye my hair pink to match the other ladies honoring Lori today, But I was unable to make it to the store. I still do plan to dye it pink, But I hope that this little blog will put a smile on her face. I think highly of her and wish her all the best in her journey as a author and a beautiful jewelry designer. I have learned many lessons and treasure her.

So get a glass of bubbly and celebrate Lori today!! I am curious to try pink champagne!! Once the celebrations are over, Lori you need to get some much needed rest!!

Have a wonderful day!! Love you Lori!!

Pay It Forward

I am sure you have seen the "Pay it Forward Handmade", all over the beady groups on Faceook. I joined three. So in order to make it fair I will send out 9 gifts. :) I love getting something in the mail other than monthy bills. And I am sure you will to!

 

 

 

I’ll send a surprise gift to the first nine people who comment on this blog post. The gift will be a handmade surprise by me and will be sent to you some time in the next 365 days (yep, mystery gift at a mystery time). I will also include some other small gifts, like candy.

Here’s what I need you need to do:

Leave me a comment and make sure you include your email address (if your profile doesn’t include it). I’ll email you for your snail mail address and ask a few questions (likes/dislikes, favourite colours, sizes, general stuff like that).

To complete signing up you MUST play along too. To do this you must blog a similar post and pledge to make a surprise gift for the first three people who comment on it.

That’s all there is! Do you want to join in sharing the LOVE of handmade? Just comment below and I’ll send a thoughtful handmade gift to the first nine  people who do.