I have to say these past couple of weeks have been more like summer than winter or spring. It was most certainly not your typical Canadian winter and that suits me just fine. If every year was as it was this, I would not keep threatening to move to Arizona once November hits.
When my girlfriend called me last week to tell me Davy Jones had died, I could not believe it. For I have idolized Davy for most of my life....well, since I was 10 years old up until present day (I last saw him summer 2011). I have met him a few times, have seen him in concert many, many times, have seen him at speaking engagements and tennis tournaments and God knows what else. From all accounts, it would appear he was as good a person in life as he appeared to be through the TV world in which I best knew him. I am anxiously awaiting an announcement with details of a New York memorial which I would really love to attend. 
I wanted to try out some new paper by K& Company (when I say new, I mean new to me) and ended up with this pretty card. These papers are part of the ancestry line and they would be perfect for mounting old photographs and keepsakes. I added a metal heart frame, a Prima flower, lace, pearls, ribbon and a "50" sticker and think the final product is fitting for a 50th Birthday. I seriously have some hoarding issues when it comes to scrapbook stuff and need to start using up the old before bringing in any more new. 
Just before Christmas when I was doing my holiday shopping in the way that I normally do - one for them, two for me, I came across a web article on Canadian mail order gift ideas. One of the ideas was a monthly "luxury box" full of cosmetics samples sent to your home. It's called "Luxe Box" by Loose Button and I received the January box today. For $12.00 a month, including shipping, you get 3-5 luxury samples of anything from hair products to cosmetics to creams to perfumes. This month, for some reason, we got an extra little white box with a couple of products in it so that was a nice bonus. Inside, everything is all nicely wrapped in black tissue with a personalized sticker.
The company encloses a card telling you what month box you are receiving and listing all the products, including directions for use and prices.
So....this is my haul for January. Not bad for $12.00!
Unfortunately, I do not wear perfume like I used to since my workplace went scent-free several years ago. As a result, I am left with a cupboard full of evaporating scents. However, the sample sizes might be nice for when I go out as they can be used up in just a few wearings. There are six scents all done up in a little black gauze bag.
This was one of the bonus items - a full-size Schick razor. Price given is $13.00 though I'm not sure I would ever spend that much on one razor.
Other items included a full-size China Glaze nail polish, an NYX jumbo eye pencil, also full-size, a sample tube of Yves Rocher anti-fatigue skin care cream and a sample size Fekkai shampoo and conditioner.
Not being a coffee drinker, I can't really appreciate this "Seattle's Best Coffee" but I'm sure one of my friends will be more than happy to take it off my hands.
And, finally, this is the card that came with everything. Hopefully, next month is as good as this one!
I had an interesting day yesterday at the grocery store. I thought it might be a good thing to seek the advice of a dietitian since, working shifts, it's very difficult to regulate meals and eat healthy food rather than convenient food. I started seeing a girl from Nutrition Housecalls and she has been wonderfully helpful and patient (I'm sure they must absolutely hate picky eaters like me). Yesterday, we did a grocery store tour where we went up and down each aisle deciphering labels, distinguishing the good from the bad foods (pretty well anything that tastes good falls in the latter category) and finding stuff from all the food groups that I will eat.
I'm starting to get a little stressed about how quickly Christmas is approaching and how much I still have to do. I wrapped about 30 gifts the last couple of nights, got some non-hand-made Christmas cards written and managed to get these two projects done tonight. I still have more shopping to do which means more wrapping. I do like Christmas, so I'm not complaining.....just saying it's a lot of preparation for one day. Maybe we should have Christmas week and then all the work we do beforehand might be worth it.
A friend of mine and our mothers had a lovely afternoon tea a couple of weeks ago. This is the Glen Erin Inn in Mississauga and for $21.00 we got tea, sandwiches, scones and desserts. The atmosphere and surroundings are lovely and it's a nice way to spend a relaxing afternoon. This is actually where we had my parents' 50th Anniversary luncheon so it's always been one of our favourite spots.
We are doing our Secret Santa gift exchange at work on Tuesday to enjoy along with our Christmas dinner. It seems early but it was the only day we could find where everyone is in. In order to get my gift wrapped, I had to dig all the wrapping stuff out of my locker and drag it upstairs where it will from now until December 25th remain in a disorderly heap.
This is the second card I made, using BoBunny papers, Prima flowers, Making Memories metal frame, lace, ribbon, stick-on pearls and a Merry Christmas rub-on. Lots more to do - whether I get to them is another story. Have a great week everyone!
I can't believe it has been a whole month since I last posted. For the last week and a half, I have been struck down by what feels like a speeding truck but is more likely some combination of the common cold and/or flu. Suffice it to say, it has taken a bite out of me and I have done very little except to lay around and feel sorry for myself. I am still not back 100% and today was the first day I have felt a little more approaching normal. On top of the cold, the bursitis is back in my knee (Good God, could I sound any more ancient?), most likely from all the healthy walks I have been taking over the past couple of months. Apparently, if I sloth around, my knee should be fine.
For years, I have gone without a Christmas tree mostly due to an unfortunate incident we had shortly after I got Kenya. That year, I had spent hours putting up the tree and trimmings, only to have a young Kenya knock it over in the space of 10 minutes sending everything scattering. This year, I finally gave in and bought a small pre-decorated, pre-lit tree that will hopefully remain upright for another month. Kenya has been an angel and sleeps peacefully for hours "under the tree". Kona just looks at it and walks away. Fine by me. 
A very quick post today as I am on my way out but wanted to share another project. This card is made using paper from the echo park paper company, beautiful flowers from prima (aren't ALL their flowers beautiful??), Making Memories metal frame, lace, ribbon and pearl stick-ons. As October comes to an end, I must get going with my Christmas projects not to mention move my Christmas shopping along a bit. 
Just as my days off started last week, I was blessed to find myself struck down with a dreaded cold. For the past three days, I have barely made it out of bed and, worst of all, missed Thanksgiving dinner. So, it was with great determination that I willed myself to go for a nice long walk today along part of the Culham Trail which goes along the river here in town. 
I was asked to make a sympathy card for "Ben", a dog who recently passed away. I thought the black paw prints and sparkly bone were so cute and reminiscent of a beloved and sadly missed pet. Our animals certainly do give us "paws for thought" and become such an integral part of our lives.
When I was a kid, 65 years of age was a lifetime away. As I edge ever closer to that number, it really doesn't seem that bad. What a busy few days I have had getting caught up with chores and appointments. I had a dental appointment in the city yesterday and, rather than taking the subway as I normally do from the train station, and because it was such a beautiful day, I decided to walk the I-don't-know-how-many-blocks to the dentist's office. That felt pretty good so I repeated it on the way back to the train. However, given that the shoes I was wearing were not at all meant for the long haul, my back is feeling it today. Now I know why you see people in New York City wearing proper walking shoes and carrying their office shoes.
I love the look of this card - very old-fashioned, romantic and slightly shabby and worn - perfect for a wedding. The paper is all bits that I had laying about from other projects, metal frame and rub-on are both Making Memories, flowers are Prima, satin photo edges are Anna Griffin.
Fifty years together is quite the achievement and certainly deserves a special card. I used lots of frilly ribbon and lace on this, along with some black embossed and gold glitter paper. The foam numbers are EK success, rub-on Melissa Frances, flowers are Prima, and gold sparkly brads Making Memories.
This is a pretty tag card I made for an 80th Birthday. The ribbon and flower are Making Memories and the paper and nother embellishments are some I had from earlier projects.
I had a request to make a card for a themed wedding shower where everything is going to be British. I wasn't really sure how an English shower would differ from a Canadian one so went for the obvious - the British flag. Hopefully the girl likes the card - I think it's kind of cute. The flowers are Prima, rub-on is Melissa Frances and the lace, ribbon and pearl stick-ons are from my collection of stuff and more stuff.
Yes, it's that time of year again just around the corner, if you can believe it. Last year, I vowed this year to get an early start to my Christmas projects so here I am. One down and many, many more to go.
