Inside the Bubble

The Countdown continues...

Six more days until Christmas!  Normally that would freak me out and I would go into overdrive!  But, this year, I seem to have everything under control.  Gifts are wrapped and under the tree, Christmas dinner menu is set and 13 dozen Christmas cookies are in the freezer, ready to be thawed and put out on a pretty plate on Christmas, thanks to Kim's cookie exchange!  I'd love to say its beginning to look like Christmas here in So Cal, but its going to be in the high 70's with Santa Ana winds.  Sheesh....I know the East is slammed with a major winter storm, but somewhere in between would be nice!

I'm now working on my next project, which is a Jane Austen Round Robin Journal.  I've got my cover completed and now need to work on my introductory pages and two layouts, before it heads out to the next participant!  Well, my hubby and I are off to San Diego (La Jolla) for the day, so make it a great weekend!

Holiday Party time

Last Saturday evening, a group of dear friends gathered together for a Holiday Party, including a cookie/recipe book exchange, potluck dinner and crafting.  What a wonderful beginning to the holiday season.  Let me share a few photos with you from the party.

 

Yum...Please help yourself to a Christmas cookie! Thanks for stopping by and allowing me to share a few photos from the party!  Happy Holidays!  
 

   
  
 
  

Scrappy Jessi's 3rd Annual Cookie Exchange

I am so thrilled to be participating for the 2nd year in  Scrappy Jessi's 3rd Annual Cookie Exchange.  Be sure to pop over to her blog to get the links for MANY more yummy cookie recipes.  This year I am sharing a really quick and easy recipe for a bar cookie that I hope you will enjoy!   Without further adieu, here we go.....

Chocolate Toffee Crunchies

Servings: 48

Ingredients:

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), melted

TOPPING: 1/2 cup butter (no substitutes) 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions:

Combine crumbs, brown sugar and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in

baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. In a

saucepan, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil over medium heat; boil and stir for

1 minute. Pour evenly over crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Remove from

 oven; let stand for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand until chocolate is

 melted. Spread evenly over top; sprinkle with pecans. Cool completely before cutting.

 

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Wishing you and your loved ones a very blessed holiday season!

 

Silver Bella Ornament Swap

I thought its about time that I post a few pics from Silver Bella!  I participated in four swaps, but, today I want to share with you the "felt ornament" swap that was hosted by Rebecca, who also happened to be one of my roomies, along with Sandy.  First of all, here is a pic of the "roomies"...

I know it's a little "fuzzy" but I prefer to call it "frosty"!!  (lol)  My skin looks SO much younger with the "frosty" effect!  (ha ha!)

Anyway, back to the swap.  First of all, I want to share the felted wool Santa that Rebecca made for each of us...he is incredible!!!

The eyes (which this picture really don't do them justice) have such depth!  I love my Santa, Rebecca!

Speaking of Rebecca - she was kind enough to pack my new little tree that I bought at Hobby Lobby that would not fit in my suitcase.  I knew it would be perfect for all my new ornaments.  Here are a few shots of the tree..I'm so sorry I can't identify who made each ornament. I was very unorganized while opening them up...so, if you see your ornament, please identify it!  I absolutely love them all!

The owl was made by Natalie and the white mitten is mine.

 

I believe the turquoise bird was made by Lonnie.

The Silver Bella embroidery hoop was also made by Rebecca.  Boy, that girl went crazy with her projects this year!!!

The bright pink Xmas tree was made by Marsi Bennett.

The three tiered felted wool tree was made by Gina.  I hope I was able to show everyone's ornaments.  In my next post, I hope to show you the fabulous Fabric Fatbook hosted by my friend, Michelle.  We had a fantastic time and it would take pages of photos to show you the entire four days, but let me leave you with this picture of the West coast girls as we arrived at Omaha airport.

 

 
  
 
 

Happy Thanksgiving

I am so very thankful to be blessed with such a wonderful family and awesome friends.  Here is wishing you and your loved ones a truly wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! 

Silver Bella bound

photo courtesy of Jonnyfez (flickr)

Well, my swaps and gifties are done, packaged and packed with my supplies, ready for my second annual trip to Silver Bella in Omaha, Nebraska.  I have two more days of work before I will be "winging" my way to the heartland of America to meet all the girlies for the ultimate "girl's weekend"!!!  I can't wait. I'll share a couple of sneak peeks of my swap packages and gifties, but, you'll have to wait for the full reveal when I return!

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Happy Halloween

Although my girls are now grown and out on their own, I wanted to share a couple of favorite Halloween pictures from past years with you.

Shannon and Allison - Halloween 1990ish....

This was one of my favorite costumes...Shannon and her best friend, Melinda, were a pair of dice!

Allison, the Scarecrow and Shannon, as a bag of M & M's.

 Wishing you and your family a safe, but fun Halloween!  I know my husband and I will be cheering on the USC Trojans as they battle Oregon tonight. Fight on, Trojans!!!

 
 

Opalescent Dream Pillow

(photo courtesy of Holly Stinnett)

What a wonderful surprise, when my friends, Kim and Jessi gave me this gorgeous Pillow for my birthday, created by the fabulous Holly Stinnett. What a treasure...it is breathtaking and matches my colors in my living room perfectly (of course, as Kim knew exactly what to do!).  I was really touched that they would take the time to commission this pillow to be made for little 'ol me!  Thank you again, Kim & Jessi...I am truly blessed to have you two girls in my life!  Let me share just a couple of pics from our fun day at Rogers Gardens, Sprinkles and Fashion Island.

Girls gone wild...shopping style!

I apologize for being such a "bad" blogger, but, life seems to just happen and before you know it, its been weeks since your last blog post.  I've been busy prepping my swaps and gifts for Silver Bella.  As of this morning, swaps are DONE, wrapped and ready to go!  Whew...that's a relief!  Our youngest daughter will be coming home from New York soon, so I am trying to get things in order around here...its amazing how I have taken over her walk in closet AND her dresser.  I guess I'd better clear things out before she gets here in just over a week!  Bye!

 
 
 
 

What an exciting Bday gift!

Last week on the anniversary of my birth (aka, My Birthday), I made the daily trek to the mailbox (which is actually just one house away), and, what a surprise!!  There was an advance copy of Somerset Life Fall 09 issue waiting for me.  Now, anyone that has been published in any of the Stampington magazines knows that an advance copy means......you have something published in there.  Now, this is a first for me and it is just a little wrapping item I did, but I was SO excited to see it in print AND it has its own page!  So, when you pickup your issue that comes out on October 1st, check out page 32  for little 'ol me!  Not only was that exciting, but my dear friend Kim has a full article on her Artistic Affaire event AND another page dedicated to one of her adorable burlap projects.  Thank you so much for putting up with this shamelous self promotion, but you have no idea how thrilling this was for me.  :)

Artistic Affaire L'Automne - Thankfulness Fabric Collage swap

Sweet Sherry was the hostess for the Thankfulness Fabric Collage swap in which I participated.  She made each of the swap participants this gorgeous canvas book, so that we could put the book together with the 4x4 squares that we all made.  I've started my book and I'll share photos, but keep in mind that I will be finishing embellishing the pages at a later date....

Above (on the right) is the square Sherry made.

Michelle Geller's square (again on the right).

My square  (all squares on the right)

Maija Lepore's

Sandy Camarda's

Colleen Jew's sweet grandbaby, Ella.

Marsi Bennett's

Arlene Schwab's

and last, but certainly NOT least, Earleen Coburn's.

Thank you Sherry for hosting this wonderful swap and thank you to all the ladies that participated. I will cherish this book!