Be Careful... Christmas can make ya sick!

It's true... it can happen - and I am not talking about the whole over-commercialized, I-thought-we-were-going-to-cut-back-and-not-give-so-much-crap, spent-too-much, where-will-it-all-fit issue... oh no! I am talkin' SICK... like, physically, mentally, emotionally spent and tied in knots?! OK - maybe that is a bit much... but we have had the fun of battling some sort of bug on Christmas Day night and all day yesterday, into today!? As it began to hit Kayelyn I remembered that it seems OFTEN (if not always) my husbands' side of the family gets hit with something between Christmas and New Years?! Rats!? I should see this coming by now and spend some serious time praying against it... but I don't?! Each year I am surprised?!

Anyway - BEFORE the sickness hit, we had a GREAT Christmas! Honestly - what hit me this year was just the simplicity of how all of our family gets along! Trust me, it was not always this way... I mean - in the big scheme of things - we have always been pretty close and all... and we are not perfect at all - we still have different political, social, and even religious beliefs here and there... but I am talking overall - we honestly do enjoy spending time together and have each others' best interest at heart! I suppose I could easily just assume that this is family and that it is just normal! I pray for you it is... but I have known many a friend who does not have that connection and closeness with their family... not to mention their in-laws!?

So, Christmas Eve was at our house... this year has been a bit odd in that we really haven't hosted any parties or had any get togethers with friends and so it was my first chance to have a houseful of guests! My husband is constantly confused and concerned at my menu's and the things I plan for when hosting a party... he is supportive, even while thinking me crazy! I really have transformed into a way more laid back type of hostess... I haven't hosted a tea party for years... something I love to do and did often in the past!? You would think with my daughter older now - I would have MORE time and energy, not less?! Anyway - I digress... Christmas Eve was great! We officially changed our tradition several years ago to lend itself to a more relaxed fun evening... so instead of a traditional meal - we all make appetizers and hoers' doerves... we usually have some coffee, pop, and wine on hand... we enjoy a meal of snacky foods and desserts and open the gifts... then play some games together and possibly watch a holiday movie before calling it a night around midnight or so... we had a blast! The two favorites this year from what I made: Tiramisu Cheesecake, and Western Potato Rounds... (both secretly EASY and fairly quick too!) Even with everyone saying we were cutting back (and we DID in fact cut back, in the amount we spent, as well as the number of gifts given!) our only child still scored some serious presents along with some serious cash?! Not one Gift Card this year?! Well - she got one ebay card... 3 phone cards for her cell phone, and then wads of cash!? (It works out great because she is having to save up to help pay for Winter Camp next month - so we were happy to have the sweet mullah - don't get me wrong!)

One of many joys of an only child is that she doesn't know any better than to sleep in on Christmas Day! No Joke?! I think one of her friends just told her this year that it is not normal to sleep in to 9am on Christmas morning?! Her reaction? "Why would I wake up early when I stayed up so late the night before?! Besides, I have to let my parents get up and fill the stockings?!" She never even THOUGHT to wake us up!? tee hee?! We enjoyed a relaxing morning reading the Christmas story from the Bible, a little something from God Came Near, and opening gifts and stockings... Kaye opened both the 'big' gifts in the morning... her new MP3 player, and the tickets to Brian Regan (and Tobymac!) Nice!

I made our traditional Christmas Day breakfast (Eggnog French Toast, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, and fruit) and we finally got ready and headed over to Dave's parents around 1 or 2... yeah - I know - super lazy and WONDERFUL!!!

We had a traditional Turkey Dinner all together and then sang some songs around the piano, opened a few MORE gifts (???) and played some games before heading home. By the time we were packing up to come home, Kaye was sneezing and had a sore throat and running/stuffy nose!? What!?!?! On the way home it all began to click... and I remembered SEVERAL Christmas' past where we were driving home and feeling yucky?!!?! Oh man?! So - we came home, prayed, poured some Airborne into her and sent her off to rest... by nighttime - Dave was sneezing too... ugh!? sigh...

Dave went to work (on his birthday) feeling weary and achy... Kaye was still not up to par so we had plans of reading some of the new books she got for Christmas and watching some of the ever-entertaining Project Runway marathon! Yes.... we had PLANS people... now - let me just say this: It is hard to enjoy eggnog once you have seen/experienced it the 'second time around' if you will, all over on the kitchen floor, down the hallway, and into the bathroom - but not quite hitting the target (which - by the way - is the toilet... not the sink or the bathtub!!? OMG!?) It is difficult to enjoy it - not hard - but difficult!?!! So - that was fun... and required enough cleaning and vacuuming and mopping that I feel as though the house should be clean - but it is not?! Poor Dave, he managed to work the whole day and make it home to collapse... some birthday!? He did manage to eat dinner (thanks to my Mom who brought us yummy Take Out!) and he opened his gifts... not sure if I mentioned the Gift of Flight that I got for him... but he loved it! We watched Skipping Christmas last night and all went to bed... separately - with me on the couch! So far - other than being a bit tired I am doing good! Kaye is MUCH better today, however Dave came home sick at noon!? (He has missed maybe 8 or 9 days due to sickness in the last 15 years! This is including food poisoning, a broken hand, and a kidney stone!? He is sleeping right now!

So - hopefully tomorrow we will all be back to normal... poor Kayelyn - we haven't really done anything fun yet... (not counting Christmas, of course?!) Maybe we will go see a movie and let her spend a bit of that cash... or have a lunchdate with a couple of her friends... something out of the house?! Of course, we are in the midst of a winter storm watch too - so all of that is dependant on the weather!? Kayelyn has already sent out her Christmas Thank You's and I am about ready to work on those Valentine's?! tee hee... at least until I get my Christmas photo's printed?!

Speaking of photo's... here are a few from Christmas...

This card features Michael Scott (of The Office) saying:

"Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care.

It is like this tangible thing that you can point to and say

Hey Man, I love you, THIS many dollars worth!"

It also had a $25 ebay gift card!

This is a Shirt from BrianRegan.com

("The Big Yellow One is the Sun!")

Saweet... this is the "SHUT ...UP!) shot

when she opened and found the concert tickets!

and this is the OH MY GOODNESS shot when she opened the MP3 Player!

Score on the Minutes... that is 200 of them... to match her two other cards for 60 minutes each?! She is going to be SO busted if she runs out anytime soon!?!?!!

Here's to a Happy and HEALTHY New Year!!!

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

Some Digi Christmas Fun!

Yeah... I know... just because I have nothing else to do...

Actually - this 2-page LO was a Challenge on IAAS... the challenge was to do a take on a specific Crate & Barrel ad (pictured here:)

and this is my 2-page take on it... (I took a very literal approach!):

This one was just for fun - because I loved my snowy tree...

Now... I am sure you will notice... I sort of used the SAME photo's over and over... I figured if Bucket could do it in real life... I can do it in DigiLand!? Anyway - this one is my favorite:

Aren't they just TOO CUTE!?!

Anyway, I hope you are all able to enjoy the holiday weekend without much running around and braving the Malls... I need to go grocery shopping - but other than that, (and a trip to see National Treasure 2!) I plan on staying in and enjoying some reading time! (Oh -and crafting some Thanks You cards... and if I get done with those... maybe even some Valentine's!) LOL!

Yeah... that's right... I said VALENTINE's...

(Sorry!?)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

~Karrilee~

Altered Frap's (In case!)

Yes... in reality, it IS just another way to disguise my Starbuck's habit?! LOL!? But still...??!
I have altered the larger bottles on their own before... and did a few of those too:




...but I loved the idea of doing the 4pack all together and filling them each with candy and Hot cocoa or instant coffee yumminess... too fun! Isn't it cute!?!?!

Now... who does it go to!? I can't decide?! (Yes - I AM now just making gifts for the sake of creating!!?! Is that wrong?!) tee hee!?
~Karrilee~

Step by Step Instructions

OK... Well - I was asked to give instructions on how to make those super fun little Triangle box/ornaments... I tried to e-mail instructions, but found that I am apparently not the one to write out instructions!? LOL?! It made me think of that skit on SNL with the Computer Tech... ("Moooove!") So - I thought maybe a little visual would help!? (Let me know, Amy!?)

Scrap On!
~Karrilee~

I've got a Secret...

...and I've been a busy girl!!!

I decided that before I can start leaving any smack on others' blogs - I had better update my own! I have been busy this past week working (praise God!), but when I need a little break, I like to stroll around Blogland and read what you all are up to... except there has been little to no updating and while in some cases, this is completely understandable, in others - well - I want something new to read!?!!? (hint, hint?!)

"What have I been up to?" you ask... well - I completed an ENTIRE Heritage album last week... from start to finish... wow!? It was so much fun not only reading through the journaling (you all know I am a big fan of that!) but also playing with the old photographs... some dating back to the 1800's I believe!!? Incredible! I used mostly K&Co "Classic K" line... fits so great with all the older photo's... yummy! Since it goes back 5 generations, I did not want it to be too trendy or full of lots of embellishments... it is not my normal 'style' of lots of layering and fun extras - but it is clean and simple and gorgeous (if I do say so myself!). So fun! I am redoing one page at my clients' request (as he wants to move a photo to another page, and remove one all together) and then I will be totally finished with it! Yay! Once I hand over the album, I will ask his permission to post some of the layouts and have him write up a customer review as well! Until then, you will just have to take my word for it! It rocks! LOL!

Oh - hey - I almost forgot?! ...I needed an oval cutter to complete this project, and if you can imagine - um - I don't have one?! So - I got the word out that I was looking for one and was lucky enough to have several offer a loan... so I got the CM Oval cutter from my sister-in-law (thanks Suzie!) and then, my friend Renee offered to loan me her CRICUT!!!! Yes, that is right people... The Cricut is IN the house!!!! She was SUPPOSED to come over and bring it with her so we could scrap together - but she wasn't feeling well and just said, "Come and get it!" ??? Crazy - but who am I to question her?! I had SO MUCH FUN with it... and I haven't really done much!? The ovals it cuts were too small - but I was able to use smaller ovals and make each Monogram 'branch' of the family tree! SO cool!!! Plus I used a couple of shapes and made the Title page using it! Even Dave thought it was like Magic... I think he can even see how I might 'need' one?! I know?! If you knew my hubby - you would know how amazing that statement is?!!! LOL!? Of course, I won't hold my breath in GETTING one... I am sure he noticed I had one at the house for free?!!! (Renee - I promise I will get it back to you next week!!!)

I also spent a bit of time making these super cute Triangle Box Ornaments that we filled with candy to give out to some of Kayelyn's classmates and teachers this year. So fun!

Whew?! So... right now I am working on altering a 4Pack Frap... I will post the finished product... (Hey Na... I could use some of that Cocoa mix... I am planning on filling each empty bottle with a dry hot drink mix of some sort... it seems as though you have plenty!?!! LOL!)

Oh yes... my secret!? You want to know my secret?!!?

Well... you seriously can't tell anyone... it is a SURPRISE!!!

Yeah, Baby!!! That is Row 4 in the center... SaWeet!!! SO excited! This is gonna be in each Stocking as a stocking stuffer... if, somehow, 'someone' hears that he is coming - I will of course go OFF on how it is too stinkin' expensive right at Christmas time to spend that kind of money... blah, blah, blah!!!? tee hee! I know, I know - mean!? But - it's all worth it when I have the camera ready and get that reaction captured on film - er - uh - disc?! Whatever... it will be captured and scrapbooked along with (hopefully) photo's from the show and huge (Cricut-cut?) quotes from all of our favorite bits!

Anyway - I am off to wrap these little gems, and pack for a road trip! We are off to Walla Walla for the weekend...

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Birdies, a Prize, a Circle Cutter, & a Promise!

Ah yes... even the title seems cluttered and random, I know?!

However, December 10th looms large and I am trying to schedule my time so I am not stressed out as I wrap up (pardon the pun) the rest of my Christmas To-Do list! LOL!?

So - on Tuesday, while Kaye had Dance Team (Drill) practice, I enjoyed a little down time at Bella Scrapbooking partaking in Julie's fun Creative Cafe project of the day... Who doesn't love these adorable Birdies?!

So fun!!! (Of course, you know me... I had to tweak it just a little to make it mine!)

I did manage to get all my letters copied, cards stuffed and stamped, and everything is mailed off and on it's way... I got most of the shopping done and a few of the stocking stuffers bought... I have wrapped everything so far and they are under the tree or around the manger... (I haven't wrapped any of Kaye's yet because, well - that just seems mean?!) Of course, I guess seeing all the gifts out and not seeing any for her may be meaner?! (more mean?! I don't know?!) As I got home yesterday and collapsed from a full day of meetings and errands and marking things off that super bossy list of mine, I logged on and found that I have won a prize of some osrt at Bella's... so I guess I am 'required' to go back to the store soon and find out what I won! Yay! I love prizes!

I have recently been blessed with a new client. He is wanting me to get this album done before Christmas and it is an awesome project! It is a Heritage Album that goes back 5 generations... he has excerpts from actual diaries written by his great, great, (great) grandparents... as well as some excellent photographs! The thing is - each main 'branch if you will, features a great old photograph and most of them, since they are old - are oval. I have finally (after all these 13 years of scrapping) come upon a need for an oval/circle cutter?! I am sure someone will have one for me to borrow... because, really - if I have made it this long?! Do I really need one afterall!?

Lastly - in the midst of all the flooding that is going on in WA and OR... I looked out my front door the other day and this is what I saw:

Pretty cool, huh!? Gotta Loves God's Promises... the Bible says that they are Yes and Amen!

Scrap On!

~Karri~

Winter Wonderland

aah yes... if the past few days are any indication, we will be having a White Christmas indeed!

I believe we are at about 15 or 16 inches now and it is STILL snowing... Now, don't get me wrong - it does snow here in the desert - but we haven't had this much accumulation in one day (or two or three now) for years and years!!! However, I must say that I am blessed enough to mostly be able to enjoy it from the toasty comfort of my own home... only having to venture out to take the little one to and from school! It also helped put me in a somewhat festive mood!

I was able to put away all the Autumn/Thanksgiving stuff and pull out all the Christmas decorations, and get them all put up... as well as the tree and lights and all... I suppose I could have taken 'after' pictures too... maybe later... but this is where I started:

I have half hte table covered in Fall stuff and half in Christmas... and that is just the table - the floor is another story! I got side tracked though and haven't taken any photo's of the completed look... you know me though - it is just little touches in each and every room!? LOL!? Why oh why do I do this!? Because I love the finished look! I tried to scale back this year and didn't put EVERYTHING out... each year my hope is that it will get to be less and less... but the snow distracted me... isn't it just gorgeous? (from inside, anyway?!)

I did work on some more cards... I will take some photo's of those later too... and I am about halfway done with our family letter (which means 1/2 done and about 3 edits left to go!?) So - that is my plan this afternoon - to finish up with those things and maybe even wrap a few gifts?! We'll see...

Oh and this one?

This one is just for fun... (yeah - that is Kaye -as I mentioned in the last post, "stuck" in the hallway... ?!!?)

I suppose it is officially December now, so I can honestly say

Merry Christmas!

Scrap Happy!
~Karri~

Post-Thanksgiving...

Post-Thanksgiving to Holiday Rush!?!!

Aaahh - we go from a relaxing Thanksgiving weekend filled with family and fun and sleeping in WAY too late... to the immediate RUSH of the holidays?! Yikes?! I hate this part of Christmas?! Honestly, I try so hard to not get caught up in it all?! This year I completely slacked on buying gifts early though - so I have nothing bought ahead of time?! I am going out to get a few things and hopefully will be able to get the bulk of it today... my deadline still remains Dec 10th! I will be done with shopping, wrapping, writing, and mailing all things related to Christmas and I will be able to sit back and actually do the FUN parts and enjoy the season! That is my goal anyway!? I have been able to meet it each year for the last 8 or so years... trust me, this makes a WORLD of difference! I encourage you to set a goal/deadline yourself! Once you do - you won't go back to the last minute stress of it all!

I have no photo's to share... I was so bad this year?! I didn't take ANY pictures on Thanksgiving... so mad at myself?! I even had the camera - but I just never got it out and took any pictures?! (Even after losing Kevin and having that realization?! Something is WRONG with me?!) It was a bit stressful this year - well - not really... but the atmosphere was charged with nervous energy! We had family members that we have never had join us and due to some family history it could have been very - well... it could have been bad - and praise God - it wasn't! The NEXT day I thought of the camera... brought it out and yet again, failed to snap any photo's?! The ONLY picture I got from the entire weekend was of my daughter... it had nothing to do with Thanksgiving... although she was, in the end, thankful that I was able to remove the entire hand rail so she could get her arm unstuck!? Yeah... good times! Oh, did I mention that she is TWELVE?! LOL?! (Poor thing... I laughed so hard at her I had to take a potty break!)

Anyway - overall, we had a great Thanksgiving! It was wonderful to have the whole family together - laughing, visiting, playing games, watching movies, eating, drinking, being merry! You know - the whole deal!

This week... well - Dave plays at Apple Tree tonight... we are praying that it will open doors for him to perform there in the future! (This is a private party!) I have a meeting with a new client tomorrow. I had been praying for a new client before Christmas to help with our budget... we'll see how much it will help after my meeting! I need to finish up with my cards, work on a letter, and get out all the decorations and decorate this weekend! I LOVE Christmas... I love it even more when I am not stressed out and over scheduled!!! I love that Hanukkah comes first and that helps us to really reflect on Jesus... to light the lights and recite the blessings and scriptures that Jesus Himself did as a child! That is my favorite part! As much as we enjoy Christmas and all the festivities... Jesus really didn't celebrate His birthday like we do... but, what He DID do was Hanukkah... lighting the lights, saying the blessings... it is a very powerful moment when we read the Old Testament scriptures used and we can see that they point to Christ. And we know that more than likely, He saw that too!

Anyway - I am off to shop... a friend of mine just had a baby girl too - so I am going to meet her and hold her (and say hi to her Mom too, of course!) I have been working on some little triangle box/ornaments too - I will take some pictures of those and post them soon... along with a few other card samples! (I am done with the Slide cards... only did about half my list with those - they are cool but I am wanting to actually finish up quickly!)

Until next time,
Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Elf Yourself

Oh yeah... OK - I stumbled upon this little gem of a site
a couple of days ago (thanks to Ruthie) and I have to say...
I was ATTEMPTING to hold it back from you all
until AFTER Thanksgiving!
You know - I LOVE Thanksgiving...
it is my favorite holiday...
and I always hate how it just gets skipped over
and we rush into Christmas...
so I felt it would be a bit - I don't know
- unethical for me to do the same thing that I loathe...
however, this just CRACKS me up!
I mean, honestly
- each and every time I see it...
or even just THINK about it?!
It is priceless!


And, well, since you ASKED for an update Darcie...
you deserve all the soreness from laughing
and working out those recovering muscles and organs!
I thought I could just add it here...
but of course, I can't get it to work...
so you'll have to click the link below!
(I KNOW Na, if I would PAY...
it would probably work?!)

Enjoy! And then go Elf Yourself... don't forget to SHARE though!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9549883487

~Karrilee~

Recent Layouts... and prayers answered!

Hey there...

Well - I was able to complete two layouts at my Thursday

night Crop and sort of pre-plan another two...

which meant that once I came home,

I had to set up so I could scrap on Friday as well!

So - yes - it is true... once again,

I am all caught up!

You saw the photo's last week...

here they are in their layouts!

LOVED this paper when I found it! So yummy! and I just got those Heidi Swapp foam diamond/argyle stamps! Too fun!

One of our new Scrapbook stores is selling Creative Cafe stuff... OMGoodness - I love it all!!!?

I am sure I will take some photo's this weekend

when the whole family is gathered together!

We'll be missing our newest edition, Brandon,

as he is serving in Iraq.

His first holiday as a married man,

and yet so far away from his bride,

and his home!

We are so thankful that there are people

like him who are willing to serve.

The blessing is that the newlyweds

are able to 'talk' online

nearly every day!

It is so not like it was back in the day!

Today is grocery shopping day...

I SHOULD have gone as soon as I dropped

off Kaye to school when it is still relatively quiet...

but no... we woke up to snow this morning

and I was just too cold and not caffeinated yet!

Trust me, I did everyone a favor! LOL!?

I am enjoying a gingerbread latte

and slowly warming up and waking up...

I will head out soon!

We are thanking God for answered prayers...

Most importantly this week we are thanking Him

that our beloved Chuck

is home and recovering from

an unexpected emergency surgery...

amazing how God can truly work

ALL things together for good!

We love you Darcie

and we are praying for you,

for Dan and the girls...

I am sure this Thanksgiving

will give you just a little more

to be thankful for!

Let us know if we can do anything!

I am off now to lurk around a few other blogs,

hit the grocery store,

and to cut up some unassembled cards

for the RAK I gave away!

(Karen.... e-mail me so I know

where to send your prize!)

I still need to finish up some other

(easier/quicker) cards to be ready

to send out in a week or two

- not to mention writing out our Christmas Letter...

(yes, I DO do one of those!)

Blessings,

~Karrilee~

OK... I have stepped away from the Christmas Cards Chuck!

LOL?!

How did you know?! I suppose I mentioned that was what I was going to work on last time, huh!? Well - I think I finished about 22 Christmas slide Cards... yeah?! Um - it took me less time to do that last order of 100 cards!? LOL!? So - I think I am pretty much done with the slide cards and will choose an easier version for the REST of my Christmas card list. As I was assembling the Slide portion, I found myself really wanting to edit my list... it seems each year it gets a bit smaller than the year before?! Maybe I am just lazy... or maybe it really, sadly, IS becoming a lost tradition!? Do you all make or send Christmas cards!? How many do the 'family letter'? C'mon!? Fess up! (Let me know if you make cards, or send cards, and how many you send... at the end of the week I will draw a name and send you a little RAK!)

Oh... I was taking pictures of my Christmas cards (surprise, surprise) to post here... and I realized that I am pretty sure that SOMEHOW I did not blog about my lovely Anniversary gift!? How could this be?! So, I snapped away...

Yep - that is right! 15 years of wedded bliss scored me this:

But... it's not JUST the Monk Bobblehead doll... the dh knew enough to include a little jewelry... a little bling bling, if you will:

No joke!???!

I said, "Honey - 15 years... that is MINK not Monk?" In all honesty, we do not trade gifts on our Anniversaries, or even really at Christmas time either?! Usually just our birthdays. For our Anniversary, we normally go out to dinner, and then find a way to get a weekend out of town as well. That is our gift to each other... the gift of TIME... we like it that way! As far as Christmas goes, we do fill each others' stockings. Let me say, this tradition was a bit bumpy in the beginning... he was raised with fruit and nuts and socks in his stocking... while I was raised with lipsmackers, and perfume, and money!?!? Um - yeah... that first year or two I was pretty unimpressed with the whole orange-in-the-toe deal?! I don't even like oranges?! LOL!? Anyway - we do a Family/House gift and then the stockings for each other. This is not so hard for me, because ...well, (1) I cram GOOD gifts in the stockings, and (2) his birthday is the very next day! So - I still get to shop for him... Anyway - that is his disclaimer... we normally don't buy any GIFTS for anniversaries!?!! None!

So... most of you already know, our Anniversary this year was not celebrated... we were still in shock and grieving the sudden and senseless loss of our good friend Kevin. So - to have Dave pull out a gift... I was caught off guard... Now, keep in mind, he had to Order this... not only THAT, but he had to order it ONLINE! Now, if you knew my Honey - you would know what an act of love this was! LOL! It was meant to be a joke... we do love Monk and watch it together and so it was just supposed to be funny... but, as you can imagine, due to other circumstances, it just didn't go over as well as he had hoped! When I unwrapped it, I was thinking it was a real gift due to the fact that we had to cancel our trip... so I was not laughing so much in the beginning! However, Mr. Monk is now a part of our decor and, in case you can't really tell from the picture, the Bling Bling is a Bobblehead too! Oh, yes it is!!!

Well - he DID redeem himself... in that we DID eventually get to go away for our weekend... he made reservations at the first hotel we stayed in for our very first Anniversary and made reservations at our favorite restaurant too! PLUS... he bought me these items too:

...which I LOVE!!!

OK... now, on to those Christmas cards... here are some of them:

I am excited to work on a few regular layouts featuring our time in Leavenworth, as well as our game night with Chuck and the gang! My Scrap group meets this Thursday and I actually have my own stuff to work on! Yay!

Hope you are all well! Don't forget to fill me in on the whole Christmas Card list... (I am trying to convince my dh that I am not the only one!?!) LOL!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~