Goodbye 2010- Hello 2011

Hello everyone! Regrettably, I haven't much in the way of photos to post for you. With the holidays, I've been so busy working at Sublime and trying to get all the Christmas and my Husband's birthday shopping done that I don't have anything to show for it. OH well.

I had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I hope you do, too, and I hope you got everything for Christmas you wanted! I was incredibly blessed!! My New Year wasn't too eventful. It was my Husband's birthday, so we had dinner and opened presents with my parents since his family doesn't do much with birthdays. Then, we came home and just watched a movie and some TV. Fun, huh? Yeah, I think we are getting old! ;)

Anyway, I finally have a day to myself. My husband was off for the weekend, and we did a lot together- playing Wii, hanging out, cooking, cleaning. . .you know. Today, I have a million things to do including taking down the Christmas decorations. This part always makes me sad. Christmas snuck up on me this year, and now, it is all over. Very sad as it is my favorite time of year. . .the music, the decorations, the happiness that is very contagious! Oh well. Time goes on. Along with taking down decorations, I have to find my art room again (it got buried under Christmas wrapping!), go to the bank, and send off some Etsy orders!

Speaking of Etsy, I have bittersweet reactions to my shop at the moment. Yes, I'm making sales, however, what is selling is NOT my cards or my paintings. It is. . .. (wait for it). . . . .Baker's twine. Yes! Can you believe it??? My baker's twine is selling the most. I originally bought the baker's twine for my Christmas presents. The cheapest I found the twine had so much on the roll, I decided to sell it to! CRAZINESS! It is selling like crazy! I love that, but it saddens me that people are in my shop- yet they aren't buying my cards! *sniff* I guess that just means I need to step up my card making! I'm way behind too! I need to get some Valentine's made, so I can move on to other upcoming holidays. (On a happier note, my cards are selling great at Sublime where they have allowed me to set up a small area for my cards! They made great add-ons to the boxes of Chocolate we sell!!! Woo-hoo!)

Ok, so the end of 2010 hasn't been so bad, but the rest of the year TOTALLY had its ups and downs. More downs, though, I'm afraid. It wasn't the best year of my life. Instead of dragging out the whole story (which will make me cry), let's just say I lost my job and too many friends this year because of a simple misunderstanding. I guess what is done is done. God has a better plan for my life. Maybe he was just weeding out the people in my life that weren't good for me, and I was just too blind to see it. It is a blow, though. Painful experiences that I would rather not EVER go through again. However, in the mist of those troubling times and experiences, I've learned a lot. I guess, in the end, that is all that matters! Hopefully, I will take these lessons and move on with life!

Yes, 2010 brought me some bad times that turned into learning experiences, but I also had good times. I now work at Sublime Chocolate in Allen! Which, by the way, I LOVE. I might even get to learn how to make the chocolates in addition to selling them! Woo-hoo! Total dream! I love sweets and baked goods as most of you know. To learn how to make these gourmet and absolutely delicious chocolates would be a dream come true!!

Also, this year, I got to go to Disney World with a great friend. Not only did that planning and trip expand our friendship, we had a fabulous time. One neither of us will forget! It was fantastic! Also, I met some other great people online through the DISboards where I was posting my planning report and my Trip Report. I can't complain on that front! What a fun experience!!!!

Ok, so I say "thanks, 2010," as I push it out the door. Hello 2011- where things will be different! May God bless you and your family this year! Remember that He is coming soon! Take inventory of your life. . .are you living for Him or the world??

God Bless you!

New items in my Etsy Shop

Hello! It is that crazy time of year! I'm trying to hold down two part-time jobs, Christmas shop, make dinner each night and run my Etsy shop! Busy, busy here!!!

I wanted to show you all the newest items that are or will be added to my store.How adorable is she?? She is a stamp from the Greeting Farm! I'm so addicted to their stamps! They are so much fun, and so stinkin' cute!!!!!

I made some gift tags for the holiday season! You get a set of 12 for $5.50! Not bad!!

Finally, this card was just fun from start to finish! The girl is a digi stamp from KennyK. His stamps are so much fun! He just put out some supper sexy racer girls! His Christmas stuff is cute and sexy at the same time, and they are even a little retro! I LOVE them!!! Stay tuned for some more!

December Update!

Phew, ok. . .it is 2 days until Christmas. I have a little time between my baking endeavors today to do a quick December update. It has been a crazy month. Hubby and I are still getting settled in our new house. This is our first Christmas in our new home. We got the tree up in the first weekend. (Now, it has presents underneath!) Now, I just need to take some pictures of it when it is dark in the room. Those 'glowy' pictures just look so holidayish!! (My camera battery was low, so the picture is kinda blurry! Oops!)

In trying to decorate the house, I found that I don't have much in the way of household decorations. Oh well. Time will remedy that soon!

I spent a the second weekend baking cookies to give as gifts. As a new home owner, we don't have much money for gifts, so I gave away many, many cookies and pastries! Here they are all laid out in their containers waiting to be capped and sent off to their recipients! (Peppermint macarons, Sugar Cookies, Marshmallows, Chocolate cake balls!)

I even made macarons (no flavor) to be filled with peppermint ganache! They all came out beautifully- little feet and smooth tops. Most had an air bubble, but oh well. I was very excited to see the little rows of perfect little macarons! (This was quite an accomplishment after Thanksgiving where I had to try three times to get some presentable macaron cookies!!!)

Now, I'm off work, and I'm working on making more cookies to give to my family and hubby's family. Also, I'm wrapping presents and attempting a pecan pie on Wednesday!

I so love this time of year! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Hopefully, I'll be back more often in the next two weeks since I'm not at work! See you soon!

Merry Christmas!!!