I will be teaching 5 classes at Lasting Memories April 4th - 6th and thought I would share a little sneak peek of my “Time Flies” class. If you are in the area check out the fun retreat Barb and Julie have planned. I hope to see you there.

I will post my second class shortly. I’m just about finished. Oh what a fun weekend this is gonna be.

of wonderful new Maya Road products are coming in tomorrow. I’m sure it will not take much guessing to figure out where I will be tomorrow! It is like Christmas when these boxes arrive. I love seeing all the new products Deb and Caroline create. I thought CHA-S was an incredible release but man I think they have topped that one because CHA-W is out of this world. I cannot wait for you to see all the new products.

Here is a portion of my newest Winter Bella E-Zine project. This is the first time I have ever just scrapped or created something for me. Usually I am working on a layout or project for a design team or a specific call. It is so nice to play late at night when all is quiet. I can’t wait to work on another project tonight. But today it is all pre-CHA-W. My check list keeps getting bigger rather than smaller.

I found this and thought I would share it with you. I think it would be great fun for both kids and adults. I do believe Ansley and I just might have to Grinch a few people in our neighborhood. Below is how it all works.

You’ve Just Been Grinched!

You’ve been selected as the recipient of this ornament. The Grinch made it just for you! And you don’t want to disappoint the Grinch!

The following are his demands… If you want to see any presents under your Christmas tree!

1. Hang up one copy of his festive face where all can see so you don’t get Grinched again!

2. Make or buy two ornaments.

3. Send them to two unsuspecting friends-you must include pictures of the Grinch and a copy of this letter so the next Grinchee can send off his/her ornament! Make photocopies if necessary.

4. Bring your package to your friend’s house. Ring the bell and take off! The Grinch would be extremely disappointed if you were to get caught.

5. Don’t break the chain if you want a Merry Christmas.

And my friend Patti sent me this link. She Elfed a group of us Fiskateers… we appear in this order… Me, Jane Hasty, Patti Church and Stephenie Hamen. I think it is so funny. They are all at a crop right now and I really do not like being geographically challenged. Because I am here and they are there! Have fun. I’m sure there will be lots of laughs. I miss you three a lot.

We are putting up the tree this evening. I have been cleaning the front room all day. This years tree will look totally different from last years. It is so easy and I love it! First time ever I have placed colored lights on my tree. Ansley is thrilled. I will show photos once we get it just right. Have a wonderful evening.

Here is a fun “Getting to know you” Christmas questionnaire. My sister sent this to me so I thought I would share it with all of you. I am making a few ornaments that I will share with you tomorrow. They are easy and fun to make. Oh and this is for my friend Patti…. you will be happy to know it will be 80 degrees here in Frisco tomorrow! It was only 7 degrees at her place last night. Talk about put another log on the fire.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper… Terri and Ansley are not trustworthy for gift bags!
2. Real tree or artificial? We have an Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Every year is different. Ours is going up this weekend.
4. When do you take the tree down? If you look in the Winter Issue of Scrapbooking and Beyond you will discover that last year it was MARCH!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but my Dad’s is my favorite.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? When I was around 4 or 5 I got a Baby Etchn Sketch Doll (the name is something like that) I loved that doll and wish I could find one.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No
8. Hardest person to buy for? My DAD! Sorry Dad but it is true.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Ansley
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? Honestly, I have never received a gift I didn’t like.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I feel some things should be done the “old fashioned” way and mailing Christmas Cards is one of them.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December and yes I tell myself every year that I am not going to wait until December to start shopping and here I sit once again with not a gift purchased.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Mom’s Peanut Butter Fudge and my Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies and Pecan Sandies
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Every year has always been white but this year Ansley has talked me into C7 colored lights like they have on the trees in Hollister, one of her favorite stores.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Holy Night is my absolute favorite and it doesn’t matter who sings it.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Have traveled every year but I’m trying to talk my Mom and Dad into coming up here this year!
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Well of course I can.. you know my Dad is Santa don’t you?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither, I have a really cool vintage glass topper that the girls cannot stand but I LOVE!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When the girls were little we opened one on Christmas eve and the rest Christmas morning, now we celebrate on Christmas Eve. I love the room dark with just the glow from our tree and a few years ago it actually snowed here on Christmas Eve. It was the most magical Christmas ever and one I will never forget.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Rude people just don’t get this at all. I understand we are all stressed but being rude certainly doesn’t make it any better.
23. What is the “silliest” family tradition you do, or miss doing? We don’t have one that is really silly but I do usually have one of the girls on some sort of crazy treasure hunt to find their gift. Not sure who my victim will be this year.
24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? I think the long thinly cut silver tinsel that was supposed to drape down from the trees branches to look like icicles
25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? I love both
26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies? Sugar Cookies to me, Gingerbread is for Houses
27. Do you like Fruitcake? NO

So this year Ansley REALLY wanted to have a pink forest. Thanks to my Mom and my Sister it is complete. They found what I believe is the only 4 ft. pink tinsel and pink lit tree out there. Mom paid more to ship the tree to Ansley than she did to purchase the tree. Ansley is still decorating it but as you can see it will have glittered snowflakes, white boa garland and snow on the branches… YEP, she is my child!

The one iridescent tree really bugs me in this photo but during the day and at night it looks so pretty and does not stand out as much as in this photo. I’m just going to have to cover it up with my finger when I look at this photo.