LUCY, I'm Home!

I received an early Christmas gift with the news that my honey would be able to come home after a 5 month abscence almost to the day, December 22 nd. "Lucy, I can come home today!!" were the words that I heard over the phone early that morning. "What???"" Oh my goodness, I'm glad I cleaned the house last nite! (what strange things I think, huh???) Of course I was more than happy to hear him on the other line with such nice news. Many of you know the situation around the abscence so I won't go into it here, but suffice to say after a very trying last half of the year, we started our new beginning in a very positive manner. Surrounded by family and some friends and at Christmas, what more could we ask for.

It has been a whirl wind week since last Friday, with tons of travelling here and there, visiting, shopping, cooking, wrapping, cleaning, more cooking, more shopping, looking for jobs for him, getting transportation secured so he can get to his job, get togethers with family, and yesterday we started on a project mentioned here .

Way to much food, but it was worth it! One new recipe I tried was "Crab Rangoon Dip" with homemade wonton chips. MMMM, that was really good and different.

As you can see, all the activity tuckered

out even the most hearty of contenders, my youngest DS. This picture is from early Christmas Eve afternoon. I snuck in and grabbed the moment as he lay so peaceful sleeping.

I had plenty of help in the kitchen, with my oldest more than glad to taste test anything, well almost anything. He passed on the crab stuffed mushrooms (my personal favorite) Christmas Eve, but gave the thumbs up to just about everything else!

DS opening gifts from Grandma, she knows how to drum up excitement even through the miles, the boys always look forward to Grandma's box arriving a few days before Christmas. (Okay, so do I :) I was good, I didn't even open it until Christmas Day. Much improved from my childhood sneaks through "Santa's workshop", huh Mom????

Here's a dark snapshot (seems to be a trend with my picture taking lately) of our living room after Santa paid a visit and before the little cherubs woke up.

Besides the 20, she sent a toothbrush which, hmmmm, had mixed reviews, but I'M GLAD she sent it, especially with all the candy and cookie eating as of lately, they need it more than ever!!

And my honey, opening his gifts slowly and carefully, soaking everything in that has occurred in the last 6 months, and just greatful to be where he is now, and greatful to be able to be home with us on Christmas day.

The kids had a lot of fun opening gifts and sharing lots of laughs and good food with our small family, but of course, my youngest had an announcement, to make.....which I'm sure many parents have heard at one point or another...."Well, I don't know what happened to my LIST, but I didn't get everything I wanted!" Grrrrrr....tears from Momma came streaming out...LOL....I had to go to the bathroom as I was so hurt, but Ken came to my rescue assuring me that once we had the air hockey table set up, he would be a happy camper and that's just how kids are.
Well, it hurt anyway to hear it but I wiped the tears away and tried to remember that its not about the amount of gifts or amount of money you spend, its the time as a family, the gift of love, the gift of Christ which is the reason for the season. Hmmmm,, it makes me think that I need to reinforce that with my youngest so he learns and remembers each year- why we celebrate Christmas.

I hope everyone who stops by and takes the time to read this has had a wonderful holiday with their friends and family and your 2007 is year that brings many blessings to you and yours.

Up next.....peek into my new projects and resolutions for the New Year!

Cheers! Lucy

It's the Nite before......

<Great gift from Rebecca , a beautiful vintage table cloth and napkins, some yummy fudge from my customer, Annette>

Twas the nite before, the nite before, the nite before, the nite before Christmas.

The stockings are hung, the kids are fed and Momma's wondering how long it will be before she can just come home, take a long hot bath and go to bed!

*

I try to tuck them in early, but each nite it gets later and late. Playstation is on, the level is just about won when finally their tired little eyes close for a not long enough, winter evening nap.

*

It's not Sugarplums dancing in their heads, it's Betty Crocker Sugar cookies and Banana Nut quick bread that are yet to be cooked but sure to be had.

*

There's still a few more presents to be wrapped, even a couple yet to be bought.

How I wish I had my own little elves to run and around and shop!

*

It wasn't long before I arose to a clatter. What could it be, it certainly was too early for Santa and his reindeer, so what was a matter?? Low and behold, it was just more glass bulbs falling from the tree in quite the shatter.

*

The post office was happy when I dropped a 20 or 2, making their load a little more heavy and someone's tree a little more full. I'm hoping they all got there in one piece because I dropped a couple on the way out of the door, I apologize if yours is not in one piece but four.

*

I can't help be feel grateful for my family and friends (old and new), if it weren't for you, I'd have precious little to do!

*

As the season draws near and the new year blooms ahead, I hope your dreams come true, and your bellys are fed. I pray for your peace, your joy and your health. May your pockets be full and your wealth be measured more than just by the almighty dollar. Your laughter should bring a smile to many a face, and your enthusiasm encourage us all to holler! May your thrift finds be plentiful and your crafts inspire you to create more and more.

*

Before I leave you tonite, I will say it again, I'm glad for all of you, I call my friends. And to all, a Merry, Merry, Christmas this nite before, nite before, nite before, nite before NITE!

<Thrifty bowl turned Christmas Decoration and potpourri warmer from DS for my birthday>

Hope everyone has a very Happy Holiday Season. I may not be posting for a few days, TIS the Season! Be safe, be joyful, be grateful, be kind, be thoughtful, and remember the REASON FOR THE SEASON!

lucy

Let the Cookie Crumble Where It May

I just happened to notice that there WERE 12 cookies on this cooling rack. I guess NO ONE was visiting the kitchen again! Well, this blog has gone from tales of my painting , to my thrifts , on to my crafts , and as of late, tales of how to increase your caloric intake by bagazillion. I really haven't lost touch with my "other" sides, it's just that I am now possessed by some cooking crazy spirit, I'm a little out of control. I mean, who on earth is going to eat all of this mess??

I really don't have a place to put all the bake goods so I had to whip together this make shift table as I whipped together things, and before I figured out how to get them all in my fridge until I assemble my cookie/candy trays. I think the table might be something I can use for my Christmas Eve party..LOL. I might throw on my gift from Rebecca ( a lovely vintage holiday tablecloth) and find something other than my bar stools to sit the board on and wallooah, a good buffet table is made....see, I'm still crafting! Okay, so it's a stretch to say I'm crafting. I'm CREATING, rather.

•Here's a run down on what I have made so far this holiday season:

Heidi's chocolate toffee

7 layer bars

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Crunchy Jumbles

M&M cookies

Rolo Pretzel Candies

Cornflake Candy

Heathbar Rocky Road Miracle Fudge

Candy Cane Fudge

Peppermint Bark

Sugar Cookies (well I almost have these done, the dough is in the freezer, I'll wait till Wednesday to make these), then make up my plates and deliver most things Thursday and Friday. These pictures are all rather dark..hmmm...Santa, if your reading this post, next year I would like a NICE digital camera, one that takes masterful photo's, and never has a blurry or dark image to speak of. I'll be a good girl all year, promise! (FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED) ;)

My honey will be home on Saturday. I'm picking him up EARLY, so I KNOW for sure his paws will be in the candy and cookies. He's got a sweet tooth but he has no fat whatsoever on him. HMPH. Not fair is it?? My candy and cookie making has really improved since I was a youngin'....I'm sure my Mom could tell you stories of my crazy cooking for holiday parties year after year when I was growing up. I have yet to live down the year of the Green Jelly roll. Then there was the Dessert Sub. Oh ya, and Banana Soup one 4th of July. LOL Those were just some of the classics. I did have some hits, like the famous Better Than Sex Cake, and my Pineapple Cake had some good reviews....now that I don't work in retail, I have obviously too much time on my hands....but I really don't!!! I don't have enough time. Who does??? I think that no matter how much money you make, you could always make more. No matter how much time you have, you could have had just a few more hours/days/weeks to do that one "last" thing. I'm resigned to the fact that I can only do so much, but with that said, I do something extra every day and that way, I feel better about the day. Like tonite, after I came home from work, did homework with DS, made a quick dinner, made a few more goodies, then I cleaned the bathrooms and wiped down the glass table. I could have stopped with the dinner and homework and called it a night, but I pushed myself to do those few extras, and although I'm tired, I feel better about myself.

Ooops, better go now, gotta make up the "teacher cookie trays" then off to bed. Lucy

PS....check out my post about the PINK AND BROWN SWAP a few posts down. We would LOVE to have a few more participants for this JANUARY swap!!

No Calorie Recipe....Okay so I was JOKING!

These have absolutely no calories, so go ahead and take one!

I've been knee deep in chocolate and wrapping paper just in case anyone was wondering. These little buggers are probably the second easiast candy I've made and the look so cute on trays. I'm all about simplifying things. If a recipe has more than two MAYBE three paragraphs, I'm lost...or rather I've lost interest. If I even follow a recipe it's a miracle. I usually look at it and then go for it on my own terms, as if I was Rachel Ray or Giada what's her face. (Is she not skinny or what??? Now Rachel on the other hand looks like she enjoys her food, she has that just right squeezable chunkiness; the other one, although I think she is beautiful and personable, she obviously needs to TASTE one of her Italian dishes rather than just MAKE them!! I fall closer to the fram e of Rachel. Okay, maybe a young Paula Deen. Okay, Okay...somewhere's imbetween! Anyway, I enjoy what I make, and I enjoy it even more when I have people to share it with. I made these little delights for our work Christmas Dinner:

To make these little pretzel candies you need:

One bag of rolos
Christmas M&M's
Small pretzel Waffles

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Layout the pretzels on a foiled covered cookie sheet. Place an (unwrapped...you need to be specific about unwrapping, you never know who would take you literally when reading a recipe) rolo on top of each of the pretzel waffles. Place in oven for about 1 minute or so, just until the chocolate gets shiny and the caramel softens slightly. Take out and delicately mash a M&M on the top of the rolo and so the candies stick to the pretzel. Let set up on the counter for a few hours. Okay you can taste ONE just to make sure it's not posionous!



We had our Christmas dinner at a local Japenese restaurant, and I used the candies and peppermint bark wrapped up in cello bags for our peeps to enjoy. I tried to get a picture of the chef flambaying a mountain of onions but apparently I still have a ways to go in my photography skills. I just caught the after effect of a slight fog of smoke whizzing by.

Who's this donning the adorable antlers? Is it Rudolph?? No...it's the lovely Mizfixit who helped me organize the party and fundraising to pull it all off. If you haven't read it before, her and I are co-workers. I'm her Mentadora, and she's my Mentee...although often times, the roles are reversed. We compliment eachother nicely, which makes for a comfortable and rewarding work relationship.

She graciously made me this wonderful centerpiece for my birthday in my new colors on my tree "grinch green" :) Isn't it wonderful?? She does great work in florals , as you can see if you visit her blog. Even if she does do them at 10:00 at nite for pressing order the next day..lol. Anyway, I love my gift and will cherish it for years to come.

Well since I should be baking and not blogging, I better hit the highway running and start tearing into the flour and sugar and make all sorts of wonderful things so I have a valid reason to put on my New Year's resolution "Must work out and watch my chocolate intake". Oh wait, I already have a reason. Oh well..not anything I'm going to worry about this week, or next for that matter! :)

The Art of Letter Writing

Well, it's official. I now have to change my profile since I'm no longer 37. :) Today I recieved this handmade card in the mail from my other half for my Birthday along with not one but 3 letters from him. The art of letter writing. We have learned a lot about eachother over the last few months through letter writing, I actually think I really will miss going to the mailbox and recieving a sweet love letter from him. It's amazing how honest and sometimes more easily write something then to tell someone in person. I was going to take a picture of the probably over 70 letters I've recieved over the last few months but I'm a little pressed for time. I'm going to a second holiday dinner in a couple of hours for work and I haven't finished up my candy treat bags I made up for my team. I had an incident with the first batch I made. There appears to be a leak somewhere in my fridge and when I pulled out the bags I had already started on a couple of days ago...water was all up in the bags. BIG GRRRRRR. Peppermint bark down the drain, so I was up till 11 last nite making another batch. Only this time, instead of cute snowman bags, they will be in Birthday treat bags because thats all I had at that time of nite to choose from!! LOL Only me.

In other news, Rebecca from Thrifty Goodness has recruited me to help her with a new swap coming up in January. In honor of her wedding colors, we are going to do a PINK and BROWN swap, more SWEET details to come!! Please let us know if you are interested in joinging, I'm sure it will be lots of fun so get your crafty and thrifty thinking caps on!!!

I'm off to make my treat bags, have another Japenese dinner tonite (that's what we had this afternoon at a different luncheon, and maybe, just maybe, I'll have time to pick ME up a Birthday treat...I'm on the prowl for a new winter coat..yes it does get cold here in the Carolina's, although today it's 64 :)

Cheers!

lucy

PINK AND BROWN SWAP

New swap with Rebecca at Thrifty Goodness!!! Details to come!

UPDATE: Rebecca posted this on 12/15/2006


PINK AND BROWN RULE ;)

14 Days--YIKES!

I think this will be my last holiday tray

as the time is ticking and there are still more presents to be wrapped,

some more to be bought, and a couple of more things to be made, several things to ship---YIKES--- can it really only be 14 days till Christmas??? Oh my goodness, who stole a whole month from me?? Next year (I say this every year), I will start things earliar, plan better, and stay FOCUSSED. Ya right. Good intentions have a way of falling to the wayside, but at least I will give it the old college try!

This weekend I made some progress on the baking/cookie making front:

Amish Cashew Crunch

Candy Cane Fudge

M&M Cookies

Marlene's Soft Sugar Cookies

Normally, I save most of the baking for next week but since my oldest was here this weekend and he likes to help cook, I decided to go with it and rev up the mixer. I would have gotten more done but I can't seem to shake whatever it is that I have and my head was about to explode on Saturday so I was actually in bed by 6pm!! Sunday I felt better so away we went with the cooking escapades!

In other news, my other half will be moving back in 12 days....for those of you who know me, this will be a new beginning for us, as we have had had some very trying times as of late. He's clean, sober, and ready to start a new. So any prayers you can say to help guide him in his choices will be much appreciated. Maybe I can entice him into "guest starring" on the blog when he is home. I'm not quitting writing that's for sure, it's been good therapy for me since he's been away---and you "gals" are good for some cheap advice and encouragement!!! I want to continue even though he will be here taking up more of my time..lol. Anyway, he might enjoy writing about his projects, too. I'm sure you all will be thrilled to learn how to tune up a car or to re-wire a steering wheel. All good things to know :)

Till next time,

Lucy

GOODNESS

Just plain GOODNESS is all I have to say about my new friend, Rebecca who is very generous and MUCH more organized than I am when it comes to sending out gifts and cards. I received these most welcome and treasured items this week from her as she spreads her treasures around the blogland. She sent me an adorable Santa ornament, which I immediately placed on my tree and he is very happy in his new home, I am happy to report!

Rebecca is also a seasoned paper crafter, as you can tell from this rosette (sp?), and the lovely card she sent as well. I put the rosette proudly in my foyer for all my visitors to view. It's soo pretty, thank you!

The card is accompanied by hand crafted pin which I am going to place on my new winter coat (which Mom sent me some birthday $$ and I'm putting it towards that...Thanks MOM!!). The only thing I didn't photo yet is a vintage holiday tablecloth and napkins that she also sent as a replacement for one of the several that were destroyed this year. It was a perfect present as I don't have ANY tablecloths, lol.... I still have some paints on my table from the last tray I'm working on this week so as soon as that's finished and I can properly display my pressie, I will be sure to share that gift as well. Rebecca, thank you for paying it forward many times over. I hope you and yours are blessed this season and always.

Next, I thought I share another MEME called 4 things I found over at Artsycraftsybabe's blog. :)

Four Jobs I've Had

•Breakfast cook at Ponderosa Steakhouse (my first job)

•Manager of a Music Store called Record Giant (by far the best job..lol, so many free cds, and concert tickets, too bad it didn't pay anything!)

•Store Manager for Kmart

•Currently, I'm a bank Manager

Four Movies I'd watch over again

•Forrest Gump-I can't tell you how many times I've watched it and every time it still makes me laugh and cry and I see something new in it.

•You've Got Mail

•Steel Magnolias

•hmmmm I'm hard pressed to think of another one, because I normally only watch movies once or twice....as a child though I watched ET probably 20 times!! About 7 of those we went to the movies (of course back then it was only like 3 dollars to get it..LOL)

Four Places I've Lived

•Dunkirk, NY (grew up there)

•Meadville, PA (moved there with Kmart)

•Rockingham, NC (ditto)

•Moore County, NC (I've lived in three towns in Moore county since I moved here from Rockingham in 1999)

Four Places I have Vacationed:

• St. Lucia (well, for a day if you count a stop on a cruise, love that island though, must see the Grand Pitons)

•Cape Coral, Florida (where my Dad lives)

•Daytona Beach (oddly enough it was when I was in my 30's and it was NOT during spring break)

•I've been on two cruises, one to the Southern Caribbean and the other to the Western Caribbean. The Southern was my favorite.

Four of My Favorite Dishes

•Manicotti

•Steak on the grill

•Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

•Stuffed Shrimp

Four Sites I Visit Daily

•Taste of Home recipe bulletin board (any recipe you ever would want on here)

•Online banking account (gotta keep track of every penny)

•Ebay

•Countless blogfriends sites, as often as I can. Probably too often!

Four TV Shows I Love

•House

•American Idol--I'm a music reality show junkie, I also loved Rockstar Supernova this year!

•Extreme Home Makeover

•CSI-love them all, like to catch at least one of them each week

Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now

•The Beach

•Back home in NY with MOMMA..lol

•On a Cruise

•Anywhere hanging with my kids

"Okay, I think thats it. Anyone else, feel free to play along!" as stated by Artsycraftsybabe, please join in!

Have a great week!

Trays,Trays and more Trays!

Just thought I'd do a quick update of more "Paintmas" crafts I've been doing, these are sans the topcoat but I think they still came out pretty well, not my best work but cute holiday pics. I do have the topcoats on them now, they
ve been drying on what was once my dining room table but more and more frequently has become my craft table. It used to be my ebay table (it's very multipurpose, who'd a know)?? :) I haven't sold on ebay in a while, but I'm going to get back in on that after the holiday madness has subsided. My sister Sherry was upset when I stopped working on what she called the "family business"....I told her she was granted all my ebay merchandise in my will and had to carry on my legacy of selling panties and Victoria Secrets bras....haha....you think I'm joking but I had quite the business going :) Men's clothing also was a big seller for me. I think because the guys aren't so picky, they see something they like and if it's a good deal, they buy it. I sold a lot of men's dress clothes. Hmmm.....I probaby should have got back into the "family business" before Christmas and I wouldn't have had to drain my account to make it come together this year for the kids and everyone! Oh well, live and learn.

I copied these pictures from some Christmas cards....what a way to repurpose, huh?? I have several more things on my agenda to get making including more candy, some trinket boxes, and some sort of project with all my stash of fabric and buttons. Now will somebody add on 3 days to the next 2 weeks and I might actually get it all done! After Christmas I'm also going back to my watercolor painting . I've kinda held off on doing any for a couple of reasons. One is sentimental, which is odd because you'd think I'd want to replace all the paintings I had but I've not really picked up the brushes because it makes me sad to think of what I lost, and not think ahead of what I could be creating if I'd just give it a try again. The second reason is pure and simple time. I really haven't had the time to dedicate hours on end to painting. I will though....and you'll be the first to know when I have some not so masterpieces finished . :)

Have a good weekend!

Lucy

Watch Out Hips! Let the Candy Making Begin!

Sunday I was quite productive despite the fact I was feeling ill, I got out my trusty little brown book of lists and thought about all the sinful goodies I wanted to make, searched for recipes and then plotted out some best baking laid plans and well, there you have it, my tentative list. It will surely change before it's all said and done. It always does! (Does anyone know where I got my "post it flags" from??) I'll give you a hint, they come from a magazine :)

So far I've made a batch of Peppermint Bark, which has got to be the easiest thing in the world to make. To toss it up a bit for the next batch, I think I will make the bottom layer chocolate. and then top with the white chocolate/peppermint layer. MMMM. This makes great gifts, IF, you can keep your hands out of the candy jar!

The other delicatble goodie I whipped up was this Miracle Fudge, my version anyway, "Heath Toffee Rocky Road". It's very simple:

Miracle Heath Toffee Rocky Road Fudge:

12 oz milk chocolate chips

1 tbs shortening

1 can of chocolate frosting

1/4 cup toffee chips, reserve a few for topping

1/2 cup (or scant more) of miniture marshmallows

Melt chips & shortening in a double boiler. Stir frequently until all the chips are melted. Meanwhile, heat the frosting for about 20 seconds in the microwave,just until warm. Mix in melted chips; add in the toffee and marshmallows and mix, then pour in either a greased 8x8 pan (or one with wax paper). *I used a biscuit pan* Top with reserve chips. I put it in the fridge over nite before I cut it up. Store in airtight container.

Next on my list is the Amish Cashew Crunch. MMMM. Have you noticed I haven't been thrifting lately?? I've taken a very short hiatus until after the first of the year when the holidays are over, my kids Christmas presents are bought, and all the candy and cookies are made. I feel like I will never accomplish everything I need to, in fact, right now, I should be filling out my Christmas Cards! Bad bad girl. Slap the fingers that type this!

I wanted to be sure to mention my good friend Mizfixit who has posted some really pretty pics of the downtown area in Southern Pines, NC where we work, well, we work down the road from the stores at the beginning of the street. Her and I have lofty dreams of parking our "stores" someday downtown here. She also takes some lovely photo's and has a MEGA craft stash to boot! (Rebecca, you will have to recruit her for your next craft stash swap, IF, she dares part with any).

I hope your week is progressing along smoothely....20 more days and counting! No pressure though, just a friendly reminder! YIKES! I think I will take Heather's suggestion and plan a day at the spa soon! (Heather is also an awesome photographer and a wonderful designer, check out her blog as well!)

Till next time! lucy

Merry Meltdown!

It's a small miracle that I managed to get our tree up today because there were several incidents like this....broken bulbs everywhere I turned. My landlord put these cheesy tiles everywhere, and believe me, I hate them! The many bulbs that we dropped or that "slipped" from the tree didn't have a chance in He$$ of making it! I thought I was going to have a meltdown a couple of times, well I did have meltdown when I did this:

Notice all the garland decorations on the floor....it did look like THIS minutes earliar! As I put the strands of lights up, my shirt caught on the garland and when I circled around the tree...kaplunk, kerplunk, bamm, crash went my decorations. Tears streamed out of my eyes...I can laugh now, but it was NOT funny when it happened!! My son says to me, "I told you, you should have bought the other tree!!!" (The reason why he said that is because the tree I bought didn't fit in the location I rearranged the furniture for.) I chopped off the top in a furious effort to make it work, and nope....still didn't fit. I was ready to throw in the towel, when he says, who cares Mom, just put it there....and so There it is, in the total opposite end of the room, but you can see it when you walk into the house so I guess it's all good. I guess I was a little oversensitive today since I have been sick this latter half of the week and since I was feeling a tad bit better today, I ran with it but was still feeling a little week and tired. We all have those days though, don't we? We may be worlds apart, but I'm sure someone else on the other side of the country could write this same exact post!

Other decoration I whipped up was this little arrangement of fresh greens and thrifted bulbs from this summer (I hit a great yard sale in August that had a ton of Christmas ornaments for super cheap-go figure!) Not bad for a total of 5.00 including the greens, bulbs, and vase!

My little toothless helper! He can not take a regular picture anymore, he has to "strike a pose" :)

I just didn't have it in me to finish my treeskirt...LOL.....my week got messed up with my bout with the flu and it was time to put up the tree so here it is, plain jane, but I think it still looks cute!

This picture is rather dark, but you can see majority of view. Poor Bailey, she tried to find a comfortable spot all day and we kept tripping over her forcing her to move everytime she laid down, I think she has just about had it today, too!

Just when I thought I was finished, someone put a bug in my ear about getting some candy making done early for the holidays so about 7 tonite, I got my second wind and made some goodies to kick off the "baking season" and finished painting some more holiday trays....more on that this week! Stay tuned :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a "tolerable" Monday!

Lucy