When there is a crafters garage sale on the horizon, you know I will be participating! Our local scrapbook store is hosting one this coming weekend. I love this! First it is a marvelous reason to be decluttering my studio. I try to do this at least once a year anyway and a garage sale is a nice way to recoup some of my investment on the 'duds' in my stash. They aren't REALLY duds but they are no longer to my taste and style. I have gathered up and priced a whole large laundry basket so far just today. I plan to do more tomorrow. It really is eye opening to go through each basket, bin and shelf! There are a few things here I swear I got rid of already and others I am surprised I have not used up! What a pleasure it is to get rid of a container, bag or tub and empty it to either the SALE pile or to it's rightful place of honor in the stash that is being kept. I have more room in my studio than I thought I did! And joy of joys, I found some nice white cardstock and match...

Holiday countdown continues to keep me in line and this week Holiday Countdown: Here we are at Week 5 : DECORATION, SHOPPING, AND MAIL are the focal areas this week. Shipping: I made sure I got all my holiday cards out the door, decorated the living room and tree, as well as checked my gift inventory and started wrapping! I need to start mailing packages soon as I have a lot of family in other states. Did you know the US postal service will pick up packages at your door for you? Details here http://www.usps.com/ Quick Fix holiday decorating from the Pros : http://www.styleathome.com/homes/interiors/colin-and-justin-s-12-quick-fix-solutions-for-holiday-decorating/a/1137 an Eco-Friendly Winter/Christmas holiday: http://www.styleathome.com/decorating-and-design/green-living/an-eco-friendly-christmas/a/17377 If you are feeling overwhelmed already: Breathe, Relax. :) http://zines.webvalence.com/sites/Clutter_Challenge/current.html Happy Holidays! Keep going!!! :) :)

Here we are at week 4 in our Holiday Countdown! This week we are: 1. Making gifts like crazy! Inspiration is everywhere. Try idea sites like http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/other/0/-1.html Wrap and label packages as you go. Set aside needed shipping boxes and bubble wrap. 2. Write your Christmas letters! Complete package wrapping for gifts to be shipped out. Take advantage of in-home printing of postage and stamps at sites like Stamps.com and the USPS http://www.usps.com/onlinepostage/welcome.htm 3. Take that family photo and get it reproduced for your cards. Good deals online now at sites like Snapfish and Walmart.com are as low as 9 cents each for 4x6 if you have them delivered to your home by mail. 4. Put away Thanksgiving items and begin to decorate your home. 5. Complete as much shopping as possible. Shop online (even locally!) for bargains and to save time and travel. Keep on track. Shop with a list and a budget. Go home when done. Don't li...

Holiday Countdown Week 3 November 16-23 Sorry for the late posting this week. Shhh, I was super busy getting an 8x8 gift album done for my daughter and time slipped by as I submerged myself in that project. I can't share pics cause she might read this but suffice it to say it turned out super and I will share pics of it and other holiday gifts later on this week if I can. Week 3 is BAKING WEEK!! I inadvertently fulfilled that part of my holiday list today. My friend Deb asked me to come and bake cookies with her to freeze for the holiday. We made about 6 dozen assorted cookies for each of us in about 4 and a half hours. Her house smelled fabulous with the aromas of coconut-chocolate drizzle macaroons, molasses-gingerbread men, pecan turtles, classic sugar cookies, and adorable oreo snowmen. We sure had fun and talked and talked while we worked. :) Here are our recipes from today's baking adventure. Coconut Chocolate Macaroons: You can dip them half way as shown here or you can...