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Happy holidays! I am going to mostly unplug for the next week. Enjoy the family time. Try to just unwind. I look forward to posting many of the things I've made over the past few weeks -- after they are received . . .
Wishing you good pie. And peace.
So, I have to admit that I've been in a bit of a funk lately. This is so not me, especially at the holidays. Usually, I get almost giddy at the holidays and thrive on all the hustle and bustle. What happened this year? Seriously, I don't know. I feel like I've been just putting out one fire after another for weeks now with no time to think about what I'm doing or why I should be enjoying it.
The fact that we are traveling for the holidays isn't helping anything. I hate to travel. (Wow, I actually admitted that. I'm such a homebody.) I hate to fly. And I especially hate traveling and flying at Christmas time. Getting us all packed (with snow gear no less), getting all the holiday gifts finished and mailed in advance, arranging for pet sitting, plus a gazillion other things has my head swimming.
I made the executive decision not to get a tree this year, due to said travel. I was thinking that decision would help cut down my stress level and let us focus on the trip. Maybe a mistake, however. Last week, Caleb came up to me with his big blue sad eyes and said, "Mommy -- no advent calender (nope, I never got that going either), no tree -- its like its not Christmas at all." When I finished flogging myself emotionally, I vowed to him that I would "Christmas up" the house on Saturday. And I did. Even though I was thinking about all the other things that weren't happening instead.
Although we still didn't put up a tree, I did put up a bunch of real pine garland, our favorite Christmas items, twinkle lights and the stockings. And you know what -- after I finished I felt so much better! Still stressed, but in a more cheery way.
Another thing helped up the mood a little bit. On a lark, I sent the amazing Tara Whitney a photo for a little contest she is running on her blog. This morning I saw that she chose mine as one of the top 21 (out of, I think, over 400). Now, the rest of those photos blew me away, and I don't think mine is getting many votes, but I really don't care! I loved my shot and I love that it made her top picks and that is enough to put a huge smile on my face. Here's my photo:
If you are so inclined, head over to her blog and check out all the entries and vote for your favorite!
Finally in the mood-enhancing department, today's weather is cold and overcast. Yes, I do love my crappy weather. There is nothing like a gray day to make me feel cozy and happy inside. Weird, I know, but right now that's a good thing. I wish I could be baking cookies or sewing but instead I'm wrapping up some packages and making the mad dash to the post office. Wish me luck.
Saturday was, I believe, the third annual Bay Area Self-Addressed crop organized by the lovely and talented Sonda. We had a fabulous time and I had the bonus treat of hosting Mary C at my house on Saturday night. Each year we exchange little gifts which is a ton of fun, too.
Here's Sonda opening Chrys' adorable mini album:
Mary is obviously thrilled to open her goody bag from Cheryl:
Cheryl got some yummy looking drink mixes. And see those cupcakes on the table in front of her? They were the most amazing little nuggets of chocolate-peppermint-cream-cheese-yumminess I have ever tasted. And I just know that she will never, ever share the recipe because of that little look on her face when I asked. That's OK, Cheryl. Just promise to make those again next year.
Michelle scored a set of cocoa mixes from Mary:
Chrys digging through her bag of scrappy goodness:
Steph F is modeling the scarf I knit for the gift grab. Can you believe she is due in just two weeks? We decided the fact that she chose the blue scarf must mean she is having a boy, because of course that is how these things work. Steph also made some yummy, chocolaty bark candy.
Lucky me -- I picked Sonda's gift, which was a set of really delicious teas in a funky mug, a peppermint chocolate bar and a super cool ornament Sonda made using an empty Queen and Co container! Hopefully someone else took a picture of that.
And here is the obligatory group mug shot:
Good times indeed, ladies!!
One more lunch bag. This one was made from some drapery remnants that someone donated to me for these bags. Its great to save money on the fabric when they are for fund raising. However -- I wasn't so hot on the fabric. But I decided to make it up anyway. And you know what? I actually thought it was cute once it was finished. Hopefully it will find a good home.
These are some of the tie-top bags I've been making to sell at my boys' school craft fair. We have a group that gets together to make items to sell to benefit the school's scholarship fund. These are my contribution this year. We're labeling them "lunch bags" although the ones I've sold before seem to end up as purses or carry-alls on some of the girls.
The floral fabric is an Amy Butler, lined with a Michael Miller dot. The pink was given to me for the project, I lined it with a funky purple print.
