Scrunchy Flowers and Family Christmas

I finally had time … and felt a little better …. to make a few cards.  This is one of them.  (all items by Stampin’ Up)

The card is made with SU Red cardstock.  I ran the white piece through my Big Shot using the Finial Press Embossing Folder.  I cut the red and black piece out using the Top Note and ran the black piece through the Big Shot using the Elegant Bouquet folder.   I used the Filigree Brads on the side and SU Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (turned over to the solid side).  The “scrunchy flower”  is 5 pieces of pieces of DSP (Night and Day from Holiday Mini) punched out with the Scallop Circle Punch and scrunched up.  Then I poked a hole in the middle for a brad and put a Red Corduroy Button on with Dimensional Tape. 
I was going to send this card to my Secret Sister, but then I realized the Night & Day DSP is retired now!  Her loss!! 
I’ll be making some more of these “scrunchy flowers.”  They’re pretty cool!

I’m feeling much better today and finally was able to sleep good last night.  Friday night I slept downstairs in my chair wrapped up in Sonny’s Snugglie and my Steeler blanket!   And Saturday, I felt about the worse I’d felt all week.  I thought my cold was coming back for a second round, but guess it was just giving me it’s last hurrah.  Today, Sonny has been sneezing and blowing.  I sure hope he hasn’t caught my cold …. you know what babies men are when they are sick!  I have been really careful and have been washing my hand much more than usual.  But, I’m sure after being cooped up in the car with me for two days, those germs were having a field day.

Today we celebrated Christmas at my Mom’s.  She actually kept her Christmas tree up which is a big deal for her!  She is usually pretty superstitious about not having the tree up when the New Year arrives.  All my life, she’s told me that was bad luck.  We all had a nice visit and my brother even came with his two kids (without his wife, of course but that’s another story).  My sister, Marianne and her family and me & Sonny & Ashley all chipped in and bought Mom and Angela (my sister who lives with Mom) a Wii!   Every time we get together Marianne brings her Wii over to my house or if we’re at her house, Mom & Angela play with her Wii.  And Mom has been wanting to buy it for Angela (who’s she kidding?)  We thought this would be a good way to get them both up and moving.  Now they have to pool their money to buy the Wii Fit.

Let's Burn That Fat Away!

Here is a little info that may be helpful as we try to cut back on the calories for 2010.  I don't know about you, but I have quite a few pounds I need to shed before putting on my bathing suit this summer!!

These are some food items that basically help your BODY to burn fat more efficiently.

GREEN TEA - A crucial compound in green tea is EGCG which has been shown to speed up metabolism. The caffeine content helps with that as well. Green tea contains about five times the amount of fat-fighting EGCG as black tea, BTW. And get this... Green tea specifically targets visceral fat, a.k.a. belly fat.

FAT FREE AND LOW FAT DAIRY -  Protein and calcium are the power-duo in this equation. These two nutrients help keep your body's muscle mass intact while promoting weight loss. Studies have shown that people on lower-calorie diets that included dairy lost more weight than people who ate the same amount of calories without dairy. Plus, research suggests probiotics found in some low-fat dairy can help your body fight fat. 

BEANS - Beans have the double-whammy of protein plus fiber. Consuming protein is a great way to help your body burn fat -- it gives your metabolism a boost and keeps you feeling full and energized. And dietary fiber, among other things, can help regulate your appetite. One type of bean in particular worth trying is soybeans. They contain helpful compounds that assist in keeping the cells in your body from accumulating fat and also break down fatty deposits.

WHOLE GRAINS - Munching on whole grains adds fiber and complex carbohydrates (much better than refined, white carbs) to your diet. When the carbs are complex, they break down more slowly, keeping them in your system longer. Since your body processes them slowly, you don't crash. This also keeps your insulin levels steady -- a good thing, since insulin spikes tell your body to hold onto fat.

SALMON AND TUNA - These fish contain omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to being good for your heart, hair, nails, etc., those omegas can help control the amount of leptin in your body. Leptin, a protein hormone, is linked to appetite and metabolism.

Here are some additional tips to help with the weight loss:

DRINK WATER - When you're drinking water, you're NOT drinking soda, juice, or another calorie-packed beverage. And here's a fun fact: In one study (albeit it a small one), researchers found that the metabolic rates of study participants went up about 25% after drinking a couple cups of water. 

SPICE IT UP - Just 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon added to your food can help prevent insulin spikes (which, as you just read, are BAD). The capsaicin in chilies gives your heart rate a boost and jump-starts your metabolism, so try some cayenne or chili powder. Ginger expands your blood vessels, which helps to  increase the metabolism.

EAT YOUR FRUIT -  Research has found that people with low levels of Vitamin C in their systems burn fat less efficiently. So eat citrus fruit! Grapefruit, a super source of vitamin C, also has fiber and not too many calories.


(from Hungry Girl website)

Home Sweet Home

I'm finally HOME!!  I had a great time in Texas but, you know, it's always nice to get home and sleep in your own bed which I did last night.  We left San Antonio Monday and took a little different route home but still Sonny had the "petal to the metal" and was hell bound for home.  I picked up a bad cold as we were leaving Texas and slept for two days straight in the car.  I woke up long enough to say "pull over - I gotta go to the bathroom" or "pull over, I want something to eat."  If not, I don't know that we would have stopped much!!  We pulled into our driveway about 7:30 pm Wednesday night.  Believe you me, I'll be flying on my next trip!!  It was cold the whole way home and has not gotten any warmer since we arrived.  The forecast for here tonight is snow flurries and cold for the next week or so. 

I'm hoping to spend a little time tomorrow in my craft room making something!!  I've been missing making cards.  But, I've gotten great at making calendars!  Here's a coaster calendar I finished today for my hair dresser.  I've got to go get my hair cut next week and I always give my hair dresser a calendar for her work station.  Since I didn't make it to get my hair cut before I left, it'll be a late Christmas gift.

Texas Armoire

The whole time we were at Ashley's house, we were shopping off and on for furniture for her huge den and trying to find bath items to match her 3 bathrooms.  I can't begin to tell you how many sets of towels, rugs, etc. we bought and returned to Bed, Bath & Beyond and to Ross!!  I think we finally found a match though yesterday.  On New Year's Eve we had gone to the San Marcos outlet stores and visited a Rustic Furniture store.  There we found the perfect piece for her den.  So, Saturday she & her dad rented a U Haul and drove back to San Marcos to pick it up.  It really makes her den come together and looks great!  Now I can go home and know her house is a home!

Of course, we were watching Sunday Night Football.  She is going to get a larger TV and mount it on the wall in the center of that cut out.

On another note, my Steelers played a hard fought game on Sunday against Miami and won.  BUT, because of the other teams that also won on Sunday, we were knocked out of the play offs.  Hopefully, we'll come back even stronger next year.  It's hard for me to believe that watching my Steelers on Sunday will have to wait until the fall!  Boo Hoo...

Calendar - February

Here's more calendar pages to share - February this time.

Apache Blessing for you

I received this from a friend and wanted to share it -

May the sun bring you new energy by day,

May the moon softly restore you by night,

May the rain wash away your worries,

May the breeze blow new strength into your being,

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

(Apache blessing for the New Year)

Calendars for 2010

I'm still in Texas!  Ashley had a little housewarming party tonight and a few of her friends came over.  We grilled chicken outside on her new BBQ grill that we gave her for Christmas.  Tomorrow we'll be finding a place to watch the Steelers ... hopefully WIN!  We will be leaving here on Monday headed home and will hopefully take a slower route back to NC!  We are thinking about going up to Dallas and seeing some of our friends before hauling a*s*s back to NC.  Just have to get home by the weekend to celebrate Christmas with my family there.

I've made several calendars this year for family and friends.  Sonny made a calendar stand for them.  Here are a couple of the January calendars that I gave to Melinda and Katrina.

Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration Catalog

There has been a delay mailing out the Sale-A-Bration brochures and Occasions Mini Catalogs from Stampin' Up. All of the Sale-A-Bration brochures have now mailed, and the rest of the Occasions Mini Catalogs should mail by the end of this week.   Because of this delay, you are able to view the catalogs NOW at the Stampin' Up Customer site HERE.

Start making your list and give me a call!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hope you are enjoying your New Year's Eve celebration! We drove to Austin today, stopping in New Braunfels first at the Outlet Malls! Sonny was a good sport - he took his book and sat in the car and read while Ashley and I popped in and out of a few stores. Surprisingly, we only bought a couple of things. But, Ashley did find a great TV armoire piece that she will probably go back and buy. I just love spending other people's money!! I think I would be a great personal shopper.

Tonight we went to a Draft House movie theatre and saw Sherlock Holmes. Sonny and Ashley loved it. It was ok to me .... just not my type of movie. The theatre was neat though. Each row of seats has a table in front of it. Menus, order cards and pencils are placed on the table. A waiter will come by to take your order (beer, hamburger, appetizers, wine, etc.) Throughout the film you can order food and drinks. About 30 minutes prior to the film ending the server will come by and do “last call”, at which point they will find out if you would like any final items before closing your tab out.

So now we are waiting for the ball to drop on Times Square! Ashley called it "Old Fogey New Years!"

However you celebrate, enjoy and be safe!!

Celebrate with SALE-A-BRATION!

SALE-A-BRATION 2010!!

Available January 5-March 31, 2010!

Customers:   Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $50 purchase (before tax and shipping).

Hostesses:   Receive a free Sale-A-Bration product for every $300 in workshop sales, in addition to our regular hostess benefits.

Recruits:   Choose any retail stamp set (valued up to $47.95) from the current catalogs when signing up during the promotion.   Plus, get 15 percent off your Starter Kit (Standard or Digital+)!

All Sale-A-Bration products (except the Scallop Trim Border punch) are exclusive to this promotion and will never be offered again. The Scallop Trim Border punch will be available for sale in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog, but now is your chance to get it free!
 S