Gifts For Me...Gifts For You!! Well...Some Of You Anyway!

Please go down three posts to Pay It Forward and sign up to make someone smile - Please!!


So...here are my creations. I had just enough frosting to do a cupcake for each student in my class. I came up to get on the computer at 9:00 and heard Josh in the kitchen. AGGGHHHHH, STOP...but, just as I suspected, it was too late. I was suddenly short just one.single.cupcake:( So then there's the big ultimatum, do I hope somebody is too awful to get one tomorrow? NOOO - that's twisted - uh hello, I want them to be good remember. So off we went (yes, I made him come along) to get more frosting. But this little trip was in his best interest because now I have enough frosting to do the leftover cupcakes - just for him. One happy man and one bribed to goodness group of 6th graders. Oh, and one tank of gas that will not need to be filled in the A.M. I 'd say I made out ok myself!
Oh yeah, I also made these YUMMY IN YOUR TUMMY caramel apples for my brother and his girlfriend and some friends from work. And, of course, Josh who can't seem to keep up with my numerous homemade treats these days. However, I haven't heard too many complaints!

I also wanted to share these fun packages I mentioned before. The satchel and that beautiful card arrived last week (I think) and pictures do it no justice. It has a beautiful deep red color in it that I just love. Thank you soo much Stephanie for sharing your talents and the satchel. Love them both!!

Then I got this monogrammed hand towel from Vicki after I commented on how lucky she was to have scored the white hand towels with an S on them at an estate sale (both my first and last names begin with S). She was so sweet to email me after that and say that she'd like to share one. Then she surprised me with a sampling of some gorgeous gift tags she had made herself, the most adorable EVER buttons in the sweetest colors, some fabric cutouts and some tiny words and phrases. I can't wait to begin creating with these little goodies. Thank you Vicki for being so generous!

And yesterday I sent off, well actually Josh sent off (Thanks Honey!) this package to my friend Kristina. Now this isn't actually a gift, but it is one of her purchases from my ETSY store. Thanks Kristina! Hope you enjoy your new corkboard and gift tags...

Then there were these VERY IMPORTANT gifts that went out to some VERY IMPORTANT family members, whom I won't mention since they may not have received them yet - and to which are LONG overdue. So sorry for the long wait. Hope you find the perfect place for them!

So if you stuck around long enough to get to this part, I'll see you tomorrow with some more Halloween decor and maybe some ETSY stuff. I must remember to blog about HO and Steve, and being rich!!

Look Out...I've Got A Camera and I'm Not Afraid To Use It!!

Here are just a few of the things I've been promising to share (you know, when I got a new camera). My co-favorite aunt...Stacy....lent me her camera for a few days. I was once lost, but now I'M FOUND!! Yippee - I have a camera and Kodak emailed me today to say that the new one shipped today. Things are lookin' up!
Before: black (well half black - sorry guys - I always forget the stinkin' before photos!) record stand from an estate sale last month for $3.00. Red seems to cheer it up a bit, especially against that DARK green that I desperately want to turn YELLOW.

After: record stand painted red, anxiously awaiting my next trip to Belfast, in order to stock it's shelves (or dividers if you will!)
Free prayer children, angel and doves from Craigslist (very thick particle board material)
Free divided box...c/o Grandma. Love you Gram!!! Maybe perfect for silverware and napkins. Any other ideas?
Free doll crib (from the same place as the prayer children) from Craigslist - LOOOOOVE:)IT!
Nope, it's not broken, it just needs to be put together and considering it's number 152 on the to-do list, that'll take a while!

Pedestal bowl from VVA = $3.00
Teapot flower arrangement added to centerpiece. The little orange and brown gourds are foam. I got a whole box of them for $2.50 at Michael's. I decided to put a few on skewers and add them to the arrangement for some contrast. Love it (do you sense a theme here or what?!)!
Bits and pieces of the buffet table in dining room - finally decorated!
My sister!!!!!! I picked her up for just $1.00 at the VVA - brand new!
The entire buffet table (moved from the corner of the room to being centered under the windows has done it wonders!), including my new sign from the Windmill tucked away up there behind the flower arrangement ($2!!!). My fav. part, beside my sister of course, is the twiggy tree that used to be painted white. The tree previously acted as a Xmas decoration, but had seen it's last jingle bell and needed a new life. I think it's perfect!!

I will be back tomorrow fulfilling more aged promises!!!

New ETSY Gift Tags

I added some new gift tags to ETSY today. Getting ready for the holidays!! Yeah right, I say that, but I'll still be buying gifts 'til January... Anyway, I know it's a bit delayed on the Halloween tags, but I figured I'd throw them in anyway. One of my favorite parts of the holidays is buying something after the holiday and packing it up with the decor., then when I open my rubbermaid bin next year it's a surprise package that I had forgotten allll about! Love it! There is one set of Thanksgiving tags that would be perfect for place settings at the dinner table (oops with a copyright in the corner, OF COURSE I GOT PERMISSION - better photoshop that though, that's serious business!). They are very sweet. There are several Christmas tags and one set already sold - so act fast!

I'm going to add my leftover banners at a discount later this week, as well as my necklaces. So be sure to check back.

Have a great week everyone and don't forget about Pay It Forward in the previous post (below)!!!!!

Pay It Forward!

This fun spreader of happiness comes to you via Dara at Sophie Rose Designs who can do wonders with a few feathers! Here's how it works......
I have agreed to make a little handmade item for three people who agree to do the same thing on their blog to "Pay it Forward". The first three comments to this post who agree to do this will continue the chain of giving....

1. You comment on this post
2. You receive a handmade gift from me!
3. You post this message on your blog and offer a handmade gift to the first three who comment.
4. Thus, the cycle continues and everyone has fun and beautiful crafts to display in their home!

Isn't that such a good idea? My first three visitors......just email me your addresses and then "Pay it Forward" on your blog!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Meet Robin...

otherwise known as the anonymous commentor (sp.?) on my last post and/or as my lil brother. Now I know I haven't been a good blogger lately and I know you've all heard enough about my camera and me feeling sorry for myself, but I'm not over it yet - so TOO BAD!!! My brother visits the blog every day (or at least he better be) and is obviously sick and tired of reading the same old post, as I'm sure many of you are!! So he's harassing me anonymously!!

That's him there in the Robin suit. He is currently for rent for any of you baby mamas who are having a birthday or Halloween party that you need entertainment for. In the spirit of making him happy, I will collect the proceeds from Robin's appearances and buy myself a new camera. So just let me know if you'll be needing him. He's fairly CHEAP, but a bit of a busted Robin (you see he can't FLY), so you'll need to put him on a plane if you're too far away!! Double your $ and I'll send Batman (my cousin Josh) along, too!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Other News

When I get my new camera, I must remember to blog about:

• fall post decoration
• weight candle holder
• HI
• new windows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you, HONEY!
• free doll crib and other fun stuff

Until then...

I'm NOTTA Loser!

I WON! Stephanie from built to last made this gorgeous handbag and decided to give it away. All I had to do was leave a comment for a chance to win. Go visit her, she's very funny and so are her little ones! And don't you just love that logo?

And thanks to her wonderful, and hilarious (might I add), son James who picked my number - I am the lucky girl. It is in my staple autumn colors of brown and black. Stephanie calls this bag a satchel, which makes it even more appealing to me. I am the proud new owner of a handmade satchel. There is a song coming to mind, but I can't think of the name of it. Oh well! This is it for now, since my camera is in heaven:(

Thank you, Stephanie and thank you little James - I can't wait!!

P.S. Did you all notice that I added music? Hope you weren't at work when you figured that one out!! Now onto my new look - ahhh...someday!

BOO...and NOT in the Halloweeny way!

I am sooooo mad at myself. I've been away from blogging because....I broke my camera yesterday. WTF - I love my camera and now the poor baby is gone - forever - I'm afraid. I wish FOREVER didn't have to be so long. Isn't it so true, "we don't know what we've got 'til its gone?!" And believe me, with me only working a couple days a week, we cannot be buying a new camera right now. This is a call out to any of you who work for SONY or are married to men who know how to repair cameras. I.NEED.YOU! Josh put an offer in on an ebay camera last night - not sure how that will work out. I'll be forever mourning Mr. Sony-Man!

There were soo many things I wanted to show you, like:

• my Autumn wagon displays in front of our house


• my red milk can - NEED IDEAS!


• my buffet table - ready and decorated for Halloween


• my AMAZING package from Hollyhocks - for no other reason than that Vicki is WONDERFUL!
  
• my new record player stand


• the flowers that are HUGE and still blooming the third week in October in my back yard


• my first Christmas project!!! Aahhhh - there's that word agin! It is the third week in October, though, right?!


• my sister (Stay tuned for those of you who know me and are REALLY confused!)
  

Josh tried to make me feel better by bringing home his camera from work, and he did...because I love knowing he wants to make things better. I love you honey! But...the work camera blows. It is AWFUL. The WORST! (OK OK ENOUGH, Sondra.) All I wanted to do was take a picture of the broken camera, with the work camera and even with a little help from a friend (or a very patient boyfriend insisting on making things BETTER!) it came out horribly!

So I have decided to share with you some old goodies that I have been meaning to get up and running in the ETSY shop. If you are interested in any of these or want to special order, please leave me a comment or email me. All items go to the first person to contact me.

Magnets - $1 per letter:

A Day Trip

Yesterday we went on a little road trip - sort of for the birthday boy and sort of just for fun! And it was fun! We drove to Penn Yann first and dined at the ever popular Pizza Hut! I know, I know, but we were starving and hoping the buffet was still open - but no go! Then we went to The Windmill, also in Penn Yann. I have never been there. I loved all the homemade treats and fresh produce they had to offer. We were there at closing time, so we were able to get our pumpkins and mums at a GREAT price! I got some mini pumpkins for my pumpkin chandelier project (coming soon!) and Josh got a fishing sign for his (our) dream lake house we hope to have someday. I also got a fun Halloween sign that I'll share when I finish decorating (yes...I'm slow..). We then went to get new windows for our bedroom - it is getting cold and we must replace the one Danny jumped out of! Then...the moment he'd been waiting for all day (as we walked around The Windmill and he pretended to have fun for my sake...) BASS PRO in Auburn. He spent his bday money and gift cards and came home with a smile. We enjoyed gourmet Pizza Hut leftovers for dinner that made me ill and watched a movie that I don't recommend. I love scary movies, but 1408 is NOT SCARY, nor is it enjoyable. All in all, I'd say it was a good day!

Here are some more pictures of the Windmill and of our drive through the finger lakes. The lake you see in the picture is Seneca Lake. Isn't it beautiful? I wish I could have captured the colors better, but it was pretty gloomy outside.