if our families got dressed up for thanksgiving...

you might find me in one of these amazing outfits!

but i really love these too!

or maybe this!

um.. hello! pure love!

next time i host thanksgiving dinner

I might just use this as the buffet piece!

salvage it sunday...

So, once again I neglected my tt & ff posts (this is happening way to frequently). This past week has been so crazy & busy I have neglected a lot of things like putting away laundry, cleaning up my office, calling friends & working on my job hunt. It has been a good week though, so for that I am thankful.
Friday afternoon we went & saw Bolt with Tyler, Brooklyn & Carson. Tyler loved it & they all thought the special glasses were pretty cool. Tyler thinks that all the movies we see now should be in 3D!

This weekend the married ladies on my Mom's side of the family went to a late niter at the scrapbook store. It was tons of fun & we all won prizes!! After it ended we headed to my Mom's house to continue the party & had fun staying up super late. We had a yummy breakfast Saturday morning & continued our extravaganza. It was so nice for those that have kids to be kid free for a while & for well, me to take a break from reality. I didn't really get anything accomplished, but I'm so not stressed about it, I needed the break! We had a great time & hope we'll do it more often. We talk about doing it a lot but don't find the time.

Saturday evening we went to Amber's house for a football party. I live around a bunch of people who's blood runs blue & are so happy to have the mountain in AZ now so they can catch all the BYU games. We had lot's of great food & good times. Thanks Amber & Burke for inviting everyone over! With all the fun & excitement of the weekend I forgot to take many photos. I know what you're thinking, what a bad time to forget, but I guess I was to busy enjoying myself to think about it!!

We are gearing up for this week with early bed times & a little better routine. We've got a lot going on including 3 family Thanksgiving dinners to attend, Black Friday shopping & Christmas decor to display. Wish me luck this week!

{this was going to be my ff for this past week, a little holiday table inspiration!}

you know you want to sign up!

As promised, here is the information about my up-coming Christmas card class. It will be tons of fun! I will have everything cut & ready to assemble, this will save HOURS that you can spend shopping, wrapping, cooking, attending parties or watching a great holiday favorite instead of cutting, deciding & trimming!!

Below is the Front/Outside & Back/Inside of the 4 card types:

Joy Tri-fold Card {Outside}

 

 

Joy Tri-fold Card {Inside}

 

Merry Christmas 5x7 Flat Panel Card {Front}

 

Merry Christmas 5x7 Flat Panel Card {Back}

 

Warm Winter Wishes Folded Die-cut Card {Outside}

 

Warm Winter Wishes Folded Die-cut Card {Inside}

  

All is Bright 51/4 x 51/4 Flat Panel Card {Front}

 

All is Bright 51/4 x 51/4 Flat Panel Card {Back}

All cards include envelops!

fabulous friday

If I had a loft...

thankful thursday

Today I am thankful for all the little blessing that occur in my life. When you add up all the little blessings, it makes for a lot! I think most the time I am waiting for the "big" things to happen, especially when I know exactly how I want my life to end up. But I have been being taught ever so quietly how important it is to realize & show thanks for all things, large & small. I may not be where I want to be in 5, 10 or 30 years but ya know, it really is ok.

I will survive a little longer without the perfect haircut. I don't "need" another wedding band to add to my collection. Handbags will still be cute when I can pick up an extra one to add to my stash of 50+ & I don't foresee Oreganos or BJ's going out of business anytime soon.

I live in a wonderful home (even if it is with my gracious parents) & have 2 vehicles that function & get us where we need to go. I have a beautiful family whom bring so much joy to my life. I have amazing friends who are constantly giving me the support & friendship I so desperately crave.

The Lord is a maker of miracles, not only in my life but everyones around me. I don't think I ever truly understood the phrase, Line upon line, precept upon precept until just recently. I know that we have to learn, grow, search, pray, cry, ponder & have disappointments in order to understand true & real joy! For that I am thankful!

he loves me!

{thanks lara for the perfect title!} Clint said to me across the room today out of no where. "Sweetie I've got the perfect song for you!" Here it is folks, I really do think it was written just for me! Meghan loves HSM3, I LOVE Christmas music.
All kinds. Jazz, Country, Hip Hop, Cheesy, Classical, Folk, Indie... you name it, I'll take it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Oh happy day!
This seriously just made my day. I almost even jumped out of my seat dancing because I was so into it! It's not easy these days to pull a full on tooth gleaming, red cheeks, snapping, head bobbing, hand throwing smile from me. He did it today.
He loves me & so does Rosie Thomas obviously! Oh my!
{why can't it be christmastime all year?}

Serenity Now!

So much to do, so little time to do it! I tell you I feel like this month is packed full of so much already & it's just begun. I'm kind of afraid to see what December will look like! Here is a quick update & info. about some activities I've got coming up this week.

I have been busy looking for employment. I would prefer something that is 25-30 hours a week, but it's been so hard. You would think with the holidays coming up tons of places would be desperate to find little worker bees but such is not the case. I am hoping this week something will come along that I can snatch up. When the Scrapbook Studio closed in September, it pretty much sucked. It was great extra income & something that I loved doing. I am pretty much open to anything at this point... except fast food. I just can't go there! lol!

I am thinking about offering a Christmas Card Class on November 29th in central Queen Creek. I will have more details on that coming up. I know people love sending super cute Christmas cards, but I know that as the holiday's approach we all get busier & busier. If I do a class, I'll have everything cut, trimmed & ready to assemble! Fun! Let me know if you would be interested.

This Tuesday, Elite Optical (Clint's parents optical) is hosting an Elite Red Carpet Event. I was asked to help with the menu for the event so I will spend all of tomorrow prepping for that! It's going to be a great event, with TONS & TONS of giveaways. I'm talking FREE contact lenses, FREE lenses for glasses, FREE high-end frames, Spa gift cards, Teeth Whitening gift cards, Jamba Juice gift cards & a bunch of other stuff. It's from 3-7 & will be a great event. The FENDI rep & the KIO YAMATO rep will be in attendance with their full inventory. It's a great time to check out all the lines they carry. They have names like COACH, LIZ CLAIBORNE, ARMANI, JUICY COUTURE, RAYBAN, OAKLEY, DIOR, GUCCI & much much more. Frames will be HALF OFF for the event with the purchase of lenses (this is HUGE people!) also a portion of the proceeds are going to Sunshine Acres Children's Home. You should stop by for a grand time!

I am also going to be selling some of my Short & Spicy stuff at a booth at the Queen Creek Farmers Market this Saturday November 15th. It is from 8-12 at the corner of Ocottilo & Ironwood. I've heard there will be some cool handmade things. I'm way excited to check it out!

Things otherwise are going pretty good for Clint & I. We are anticipating the holiday season & spending time with our family & friends. We're happy it's finally cooling off in AZ & hope it stays that way! I totally missed thankful thursday & fabulous friday this past week. It just wasn't happening & I wasn't in the mood to force it. Expect me back in full force this week! I keep repeating to myself Serenity Now! lol! Gotta love Seinfeld.

One Nation Under God, INDIVISIBLE, With Liberty & Justice for ALL...

*EDITED* ( I was thinking last night instead of sleeping!)

I know many of my friends & family are saddened by the results of last nights election. I certainly have my own trepidation about what the coming years will bring. But the reality is, that Barack Obama was elected as our next president & I think that rather than going & burring our heads in the sand crying that this country is going to hell, we all need to work together to make America the best it can be.

There are always going to be people that think differently than we will. That doesn't mean that we have to change our core values, but it does mean we have to work together. It's my hope we can all work together to make this country the best is can be. I took the time to listen to both John McCain's speech & Barack Obama's speech last night & I know most people don't trust Obama farther than you can throw him. But, here are a few things that stuck out to me while he gave his gracious victory speech. Let's start today & be Indivisible! Let's agree to Unite & not separate because of who won or who didn't win. We've got to try right?! I always believe in making the best out of a trying situation.

"There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand."

"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends... Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection." And, to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too." "For that is the true genius of America — that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

"Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America."

Taken from President Elect Barack Obama's Victory Speech

it's election day!!!

{That's right, I mean you! Vote for who/what you feel is best, I really don't care who you choose. Please just Vote!}

Here in Arizona we're got more than just the President of the USA to think about.

There are several propositions on the ballot including but not limited to:
prop 102 for marriage, prop 101 on health care, prop 100 on taxing, prop 201 on property rights & prop 202 on immigration.

We've also got to think about what Sheriff we want protecting us,
who the Maricopa County Attorney should be as well as other local & state representatives.

This is a big election! That's all I'm sayin'!

I've been thinking a lot lately

Here are some wonderful, thought provoking quotes I have come to love.
{happy monday!}

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Steve Jobs

The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt compliment.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Every day, passion speaks to us through our feelings. that's why when you allow yourself to become anesthetized by what others think, you literally block yourself from living the life you were called to live. I promise you that if you make a choice that doesn't please your mate, your friends, your mother, or whoever, the world will not fall apart -- the people who truly love you want you to love yourself. and as you become clearer about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you -- the first time around.
Oprah Winfrey

And while it takes courage to achieve greatness, it takes more courage to find fulfillment in being ordinary. For the joys that last have little relationship to achievement, to standing one step higher on the victory platform. What is the adventure in being ordinary? It is daring to love just for the pleasure of giving it away. It is venturing to give new life and to nurture it to maturity. It is working hard for the pure joy of being tired at the end of the day. It is caring and sharing and giving and loving…
Marilyn Thomsen

Though we can't always see it at the time,
if we look upon events with some perspective,
we see things always happen for our best interests.
We are always being guided in a way
better than we know ourselves.
Swami Satchidananda

I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
Og Mandino

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home (family). Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.
Mother Teresa

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen

Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.
Earl Nightingale

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
William Henry Channing