Come to Bethlehem

The Online Extravaganza is still going on and will end this Wednesday, November 28, 2012. You can place your order online 24/7 via My Online Store to take advantage of the savings. A few of my favorite stamp sets are included in the sale. So, I am sharing with you a Christmas card from one of them called, Come to Bethlehem.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Come to Bethlehem (Wood 118732 Clear 120591)
Paper: Card stocks in Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Whisper White
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Early Espresso (126974) and Daffodil Delight (126944), Basic Black Craft pad (102192)
Accessories and Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Woodgrain Embossing Folder (127821), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (120992), Glue Dots (103683), Sponge Daubers (102892), Heat Tool (129053), Irisdescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930).

Well, that's all for now. I am going to not do much today, just relax and try my best to stay in my pajamas. Have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping by.

Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone! I am so happy that my mom is hosting the festivities today. I am only bringing my famous 7-Layer salad, so I was able to sleep-in a little bit and relax this morning. My aunt is visiting us this week from Canada. It feels like Christmas came in a month early because she brought us many presents. She has always been such a generous person. I have happy memories of her sending us chocolates, dolls, clothes and toys when we were kids in the Philippines. It's sort of a strange and good feeling to have her sitting next to me and feel my dear grandmother's presence. It made me miss my grandma a little less.

There are so many things in my life that I am very thankful for. My son is home from college and although, we have not seen much of him because he's been out with his friends; I am still very happy that both my kids are home this Thanksgiving Day.

The earth has yielded its fruits; and God has blessed us. --- Psalms 67:6

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): French Foliage (Wood 120845 Clear 121166), Harvest Blessings (Wood 126450 Clear 126452)
Paper: Card stocks in Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso

Hershey Kisses Pumpkin Spice treats

Well, that's all I have for today, folks! I just saw the ads for tomorrow's Black Friday sales and since both my kids asked for cash this year, I think I am going to stay in my pajamas at home tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving Day! Let us all take a moment and express our gratitude and appreciation to God and one another most especially today.

A Lesson in Letting Go

This past week I turned over a few of my accounting duties to someone we recently hired in the office. I had to show this new employee my process, my short-cuts and my cheat sheets. I sat there and watched as my worksheets got renamed and moved around. I explained patiently as my system was questioned. There was a little discussion on how to apply a refund and this new person drawing a diagram of the debits and credits so I would understand. I felt insulted that I had to excuse myself in order to keep my cool. To make the story short, my boss confirmed that I was correct. I had no doubt. It was one dispute I didn't care to pursue because I just knew. For the past eight years those were my duties, month-in and month-out, year after year. I have created many of the worksheets from scratch and improved on the others. When I couldn't balance, I figured out why or how to fix it. I knew them by heart. I guess I can say I have taken ownership of them. I realized that I didn't care so much that someone doubted me, it's the letting go that unexpectedly bothered me. It's that lingering question in my head, "What's next?" In this unstable economy and high rate of unemployment, it worries me how secure my position is with the company. As someone new comes along, "Am I being replaced?" my paranoia whispers. I think I know better, so I just have to focus my attention and energy now on remembering that I have more things to learn in other areas of my job. I am looking forward to being able to do more HR duties and to finally work on projects in my list that I didn't have the time to do before. I look forward to change and growth. However, the truth still remains that as I close this chapter of my job and relinquish the duties to someone else...that I have become attached to the routine. I was not fully aware of it before that they were important to me. I have learned the lessons of patience, persistence and organization from them. Solving and finding the discrepancies have challenged me and have provided me small victories that made me happy. So, yes I am sad to let go, but I also know I must move forward to remain (if that even makes sense).
 

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Serene Silhouettes (Wood 127322 Clear 127324)
Paper: Card stocks in Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Shimmery White Paper (101910)
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in More Mustard (126964), Cajun Craze (126965) and Old Olive (126953), Black StazOn Ink Pad (101406)
Accessories and Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Argyle Embossing Folder (127750), Aqua Painters (103954), 1/2" Striped Satin Ribbon (127837), Glue Dots (103683

Well, that's all for now. We are off to my mom's for breakfast. Thanksgiving is next week and I am very excited because my son is coming home tomorrow. Have great week, everyone.

Autumn Birthdays

It has been pretty chilly here in Northern California the past few days. I have been sick for almost a week now caused by change of weather. Nothing serious, just sore throat, colds and cough. A couple of weeks ago, it still felt like summer. Oh well, I have been glued to the TV watching previous episodes of the Parenthood. I have not been this hooked on a TV series since Friends. I swear I almost feel like I am a part of the Braverman family.

I thought I would take a break from the holiday cards/projects and make birthday cards for a couple of friends who are celebrating their special days this month. I decided to use autumn colors. I hope they didn't turn out too dark.

I love everything about fall. Fall takes me back to the very first time we came to United States. Each and every time fall comes around I visit that time in my life down south when I first saw leaves change colors and my first experience of Halloween and Thanksgiving. It has been over two decades since my very first autumn, but I still fall in-love with it every year.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Elementary Elegance (SAB 2012 - retired)
Paper: Card stocks in Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla, Comfort Cafe DSP (126898)
Ink: Classic Stampin' pad in Soft Suede (126978)
Accessories and tools: Punches in Lace Border Punch (retired),1 3/4" Scallop Circle (119854), 1 3/8" Circle (119860), Elegant Butterfly (127526), 3/8" Stitched Ribbon in Summer Starfruit (126846), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Paper Piercing Tool (126189), Paper Piercing Mat (126199)

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Fabulous Florets (Wood 123025 Clear 123027), Itty Bitty Banners (Wood 126255 Clear 126257)
Paper: Card stocks in Cajun Craze, Lucky Limeade, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White
Ink: Classic Stampin' pads in Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze and Lucky Limeade
Accessories and tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Paper Piercing Tool (126189), Paper Piercing Mat (126199), Paper Piercing Pack (127857), Embossing Folder in Elegant Lines (119277), Labels Collections Framelits (125598), Itty Banners Framelits (129267), Paper Snips (103579)

Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful week, everyone and thank you for stopping by.

Life is like Coffee

With the onset of my recent horrible migraine attacks, I have gotten more caffeinated than usual. I have been functioning fueled by coffee and caffeinated medication. So, I thought that I would share a perky and sassy card today. I apologize that the sentiment stamp on this one is non-SU. I saw it at a local craft store and I just had to have it. I got a little carried away with coloring, but I think in the end the colors all worked out.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Take a Sip Stampin' Round (120323) - standard handle (102971)
Paper: Card stocks in Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue and Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black  (126980) and Cherry Cobbler (126966) Classic Stampin' pads, Stampin' Write markers
Accessories & Tools: Big Shot Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Sponge Daubers (102892), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847).

Well that is all for today's post, folks! I would like to share this short inspirational movie from flickspire about life and coffee. Please click it and enjoy. Thank you for stopping by.

Life is like Coffee Movie

Retired BNF Friday #16

I had a really scary experience a couple of days ago. I had the worst headache that I was practically blind. I couldn't see straight, just white flashes and shadows. No medication worked and I literally crawled out of bed to wake-up my daughter for school. I was in tears. Walking hurt too much, any slight movement felt like my entire skull was being crushed. I have had horrible headaches before, but this one was so paralyzing that it really frightened me. I went to my doctor and she thinks it's migraine. She gave me a shot of Toradol on my bum and that was the only thing that helped. I am much better now, but that incident made me realize my own mortality. I really thought, "Is this it? Am I having a stroke and on my way to meet my Maker?" Haha, now I am being overly dramatic.

Oh well, I want to share with you a really cute card I made for today's Retired BNF (But Not Forgotten) Friday post. The stamp set is called Fall for All from the early 2000 I think. I just love this set and have found a way to use if every once in a while. It's definitely a nice set for coloring and shading.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Fall for All
Paper: Card stocks in Really Rust, More Mustard, Concord Crush and Whisper White, DSP
Ink: Classic Stampin' pad in Basic Black and Stampin' Write markers
Accessories: Punches in Extra Large Oval (119859), Large Oval (119855), Scallop Oval (119856), Labels Collection Framelits (125598)Paper Piercing Pack in Festive (127857), Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199), Paper Piercing Tool (126189), Sponge Daubers (102892) and Concord Crush Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Oh well, that's all for now, folks. Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for stopping by.