A Kiss on the Chic

A year in a photo...

As we reflect on the past year, I pray that the New Year will bring everyone Love, Peace and JOY!!

Happy New Year!!!

 

Hugs,

 

Laura

Looking forward to 2012...

 

Boy, am I looking forward to 2012!

It's been quiet on here for so many reasons, but I have to say that I would really love to just move past 2011 and start 2012 NOW.  This past month has been difficult for us as we've lost our dear Scarlet, our loving Grandpa and are dealing with putting my Dad into a nursing home the day after Christmas.  It hasn't felt like a "Merry" time right now and even the girls have noticed the house is not the same.  

The GREAT news though is that my brother is coming with Ella on Christmas night!! We are SO excited to see them and play with Ella!  He decided to fly out to help move my dad over to the nursing home and help my mom get adjusted as well.  So the girls are SUPER excited to see them and babysit Ella!  We are so glad that they can come out and bring some JOY this Holiday to all of us.  

So I will be taking a break from this blog until the New Year to spend some quality time with the family!

 

My prayer for all of you is to take in every moment

with your families and friends and ENJOY LIFE!

 I hope each one of you have a WONDERFUL Christmas

and BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

xoxo Laura

 

Love, Tuesday...

Another sad Tuesday... 

Last week Tuesday our little dog Scarlet went to doggie heaven and this past weekend, Lances "Pa" went to heaven as well.   Ernie Di Liberto was Lance's grandpa and was a very special man.  He helped EVERYONE and ANYONE who needed help, he sacrificed his time, his money and would do just about anything for you and his country! He was 93 years old and leaves 4 children and countless grandchildren and great grandchildren.  We are grateful to him for his love, his humor, his kindness and his giving heart.  He will be missed by many.  We will be having a memorial service for Pa on Friday and ask that you pray for his children in this time.  We are so thankful to God that he was a part of our lives and now he is with Him in heaven.

It's been a strange Christmastime this year and I'm a bit out of sorts.  I miss Scarlet roaming around the house, looking for food to eat and barking to go outside.  It's weird how the things that annoyed you, can now be things that bring a smile to your face.  I've realized since she's gone that I'm a "dog person".  I know that sounds silly, but I didn't think I really was.  I'm not all "ga-ga" over my dogs; they are a lot of work, I'm busy with other things, and they can annoy me... But, what I know now is that they are still a big part of my JOY.  When the kids are in school it's so quiet now.  I still think I hear her or I'll wonder where she is for a second and if I need to bring her back into the house from outside.  I told the kids that we needed to wait before we can get another dog, and I want to wait... I just don't know how long I can wait! :)

I think I'm going to make some Christmas cookies tonight so we can get a bit more festive around here.  Any suggestions?

I have my standard cookies I make every year.  I love these cookies and I love the story behind them...  

A Dutch cookie called "Duimpjes" (which we pronounce like "dime-sha" but don't know if that's right??) This cookie originated WAY back in Holland and has been handed down from my mom's family from generation to generation and I'm so happy to say my daughters love them to and I can just see them making them for their kids some day too. {heart that}  Any of my Dutch friends know how to pronounce this correctly??

A Greek Wedding Cookie called "KOURABIEDES" (which we pronounce like koodabee-et-ahs, but I KNOW that is wrong) This cookie came from the ONE Greek that infiltrated our Dutch family!  lol...  My Aunt Gen married Manuel Voulkus, a BIG Greek Guy with a booming voice and even "louder" beard!  :)  He was quite the character and I loved him dearly.  He owned a diner in Bozeman, Montana called "The Burger Inn" that was THE place to hang out back in the day.  I even have the one remaining glass ash tray from the place that is now just a part of history in that town.  How did I get it you ask?  Well, my Aunt passed a way earlier this year and all of us cousins got to pick a couple things from her stuff and I went straight for the ash tray!  Pretty funny since I have NEVER smoked, but it just brings back memories of going to Montana every summer growing up and my Uncle Manuel.

The last cookie and one that I'm requested to make for my hubby each year is the "Nutjammer".  I don't really remember where this one started except that it's also from my mom's repertoire.  Not sure if it has a "history" but they are just darn good!  These are the hardest to make of course and the most annoying to make because of the gooey mess with the jam.  But, I will again make them and eat WAY to many warm ones off of the pan...

So, do any of you have a cookie with a history you'd like to share?  I would LOVE to hear it!!

Hugs to all,

 

Laura

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Design Team Call!

 

Hi ladies!!  I know a few days ago I mentioned that I would not be returning to the Design Teams that I was on this past year.  It's SO hard to say goodbye because they were such GREAT teams to be on!  So,  I wanted to share with you an EXCITING bit of news....

Websters Pages is doing a call for the 2012 "Clean &  Simple" DT!! 

Webster's Pages is known for their GORGEOUS papers and embellishments and boy, can you go CRAZY designing with them!!  But, in a BOLD and INGENIOUS move, Webster's Pages has decided to ALSO make a more "Clean &  Simple" line for those who aren't quite into all the layering and frills.

Take a look as some of the layouts they've come up with as examples:

 

How FUN is this going to be!!!

So, I wanted to make all of you aware so you can go TRY OUT!!

All the details are on the link above.  It's going to be an AMAZING opportunity!  And just from my experience with Webster's Pages, I can tell you that they are one of THE BEST DT's to work for!  There was nothing but LOVE the whole year with everyone being so kind, so supportive and of course Brandin being an ANGEL!  I couldn't have asked for a better team to be on, so go try your luck!!!

Hugs,

 

Laura

Love, Tuesday...

 

This post is hard to be "loving" today...

 

Today our dear Scarlet went to doggy heaven.

 

Lady Scarlet Syrah of Glenwood went to doggy heaven on 12-06-2011 at around 9:45am.  She was the best dog you could ever ask for and she is deeply missed.  She had heart failure and her lungs were filling up with fluid and even with the medicines we could tell the time was near. 

She was my "scrappy" buddy and it's been hard today to be at home without her.  I guess that will take some time.  I heard that Isabella and Rebecca both prayed for her at school today and they wanted to know right away about her when I picked them up from school.  

I think we will talk about her tonight as a family and try to have each family member say something they loved about her.  There are lots of things to remember and we will always cherish our time with her.

Thanks for all your kind words on Facebook.  We appreciate all your thoughts and prayers.

We LOVED our dear Scarlet.

Hugs,

Laura

 

Happy Monday!! (sorry, LONG post, but there's a RAK at the end :)

I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend and really kickstarted their Christmas Season with some Holiday Cheer!  It's getting REALLY cold here, so it was easy for us to get in the spirit with warm sweaters, scarfs and jackets this weekend!  We had a successful garage sale on Saturday and did a little cleaning up and decorating this weekend, including putting the lights up outside.  That is a TASK I tell you!  Usually Lance has one of the girls help him, but this year it was me and I don't like it.  :)-  Can't we just hire someone to do it?  hehehe...

I can't believe it's already December 5th!  Can you?  I have to confess that my "Decemer Daily" hasn't been DAILY... in fact, it's been non-existant! HA.   I will have to get a jump start on that today, but I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  The Holiday times are already stressfull enough, I don't need to have an added pressure. I really am bad at taking pictures when we are at home, but I think I'll make sure I journal about each day and then go back and add the photo's when I take them.

I have some news to share today...

Just like I can't believe it's already DECEMBER, I can't believe it's been a YEAR since I joined the Teresa Collins Design Team AND the Webster's Pages Design Team ! It has been a busy but very rewarding year for me and I'm SO blessed to have been a part of these WONDERFUL TEAMS!  I have heard of some ladies having not so pleasent experiences on DT's and I can honestly say these two teams were a complete JOY to be on!  Each and every lady on BOTH teams were so kind, gracious, talented and professional!  I am going to miss EVERY ONE OF THEM!  

And the reason I'm going to miss them is because I have decided to step down from both.  It was NOT an easy decision, but I feel it's my time to move on and spend more quality time with my family.  Before I accepted these two DT's, I had stopped doing my Kit Club so I could spend more time with my family.  Little did I realize at the time, that I basically just switched being busy to something else.  :)-   That "busy" was more FUN than I can describe, but nevertheless, it was still a big time commitment.

So after much thought, prayer and tears, I have told both teams I wouldn't be returning for a 2nd term.  Oh, it's such a hard thing to do!  When you LOVE what you do, and I really LOVE BOTH TEAMS, it's like taking a part of you and putting it away somewhere.  But... I know it's the right decision and believe me, I will ALWAYS support both Teresa Collins and Webster's Pages with everything in me.  They are 2 REALLY  FABULOUS companies run by 2 BEAUTIFUL LADIES and I just can't say enough about what a blessing they were to me this past year! I have grown so much and learned SO much from them, I am forever grateful!

I know I will still be a part of these teams and they know if they ever need anything, they can call me and I'll be there to help!  And I get to see them at CHA, so it's still going to be FUN to visit with them and see my DT buddies here and there!  Some may even join us on our A Kiss on the Chic Bellagio Retreat!  I would {{LOVE}} that!

So,  in honor of the two fabulous Design Teams of 2011 I was on, I thought I would share a few things I've recently designed for them as I wind down my term with both teams...

 

This first design is something I made for Webster's Pages in under 30 minutes!

This "Believe Tree" was SO easy to make with WP bloomers!  I just simply used 3 different colored bloomers and alternated them down the styrafoam cone and attached them with pins!  This was you can use the bloomers AGAIN, after the Holidays if you wanted!  

I used some pins from the WP's line and some that were just pearl pins from my local craft store.  I cut the bloomers to fit around the cone at each level and then attached with the pins to complete the circle.  I also added more pins when I was done to make it look like they were little ornaments on the tree! :)

Then I used a journaling card, a floral bouquet, a cameo pin, some netting and a silhouette and make a little grouping on the tree for some impact.  I found the "Believe" word from a K&Co. Christmas emebellishment pack.

 

I had this clay pot, but you can use any pot for your tree and stuff it with more green foam and then add the greenery at the bottom and some more flowers and emebellishments and your done!  It was easy, FUN and a colorful Christmas project for the house!  I think this one is going in Isabella's room because she's in LOVE with it!

Then I made something with the new Teresa Collins Carolina Breeze Line that I LOVE!  This new line has such a fresh look with the yellow, black and grey!  I wanted to make a Gratitude Journal for 2012, so I designed this yearly journal:

I will share more on this album later... (It may be a up-coming class??)

Then this past week, we've had a swap over on Webster's Pages with a company called Dusty Attic , they make some AMAZING chipboard and we all got a chance to play with it!  I made an album with their chipboard, WP's papers and  Clear Scraps Acrylic :

This album is with WP's Winter Fairytale line that I just LOVE!!  It's so girly and "fairytale" and I know Isabella is going to want this one too! :)  Here's a few more pictures of it, but go check out Dusty Attic's site!  You'll see some familiar faces over there for sure!

Such a lovely color pallete to work with!  

I really feel SO blessed to have been given the chance to work with BOTH companies this past year!  For them to consider ME to design and spread the word on their beautiful products, it's just such an honor!  I thank BOTH of them from the bottom of my heart!!

I will be saying goodbye to these companies only in the terms of a design team contract.  I STILL will be using their products on a regular basis, following their blogs, chatting with them online, waiting to see what their NEW products will be... and buying them as SOON as they come out!  :)

And I won't be gone from scrapbooking!  I still have a PASSION for this artform!  Among other things, I will be a contributing designer for Scrap365 Magazine! IN fact, I got my very 1st issue of the magazine a few weeks ago and I was THRILLED to see it!  This is a MUST magazine ladies and if you haven't signed up for a monthly subscription, go to the link above and check it out!  I'm also excited b/c this magazine has MANY of my DT buddies in it!  This was such an EXCITING thing for me to see and I'm happy to join them ALL on this new journey! 

And here's a SNEAK of something I designed for Scrap365 for an upcoming issue:

Of course, you can see what the "Theme" of the album is.... 

And that is another thing that will be keeping me busy next year!!  I'm just so excited about the "A Kiss on the Chic" Bellagio Retreat and I hope YOU are too!

You can go to the event Blog and check out all the details and sign up!  Right now I'm running a special so go check it out.  I am also in the works for some AMAZING things for this event, so stay tuned!  I've had more sign ups this past week b/c of the special I'm running, so DON'T WAIT... make sure you don't loose your spot!  I know this event is not something everyone can go to.  It's hard to come up with that kind of money... But I'm REALLY telling you to try your hardest to come!  Like my husband says... "Bite the bullet" and just make the sacrifices now.  Start your payments now, they are only $250 a month and you will be SO happy you did!  This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I know you will be changed for having come to this retreat in Italy!

We don't want you to miss out.  I saw some ladies who are contimplating going as a group of friends and they were talking about starting now by cutting back and eating top ramen!  lol... That's pretty funny but hey... if it gets you to Italy, go for it!  I know in our own family, we have gone two summers in a row because we have made those type of choices!  My girls don't get the clothes, purses, make-up and such that they see other girls getting.  We don't eat out and go to fast food that much.  We use coupons, wait for things to go on sale, use our Smart Card for 1/2off deals at Jamba Juice, and have baked potatoes, soup and salad or mac-n-cheese for dinner to cut down our grocery bill... BUT, I can HONESTLY say that my girls wouldn't want it any other way!  They don't even want anything for Christmas AGAIN this year!  Last year, we didn't do presents, because basically the trip to Europe WAS their present.  This next summer we don't plan on going back to Italy, but they still want to save for the following summer when we do go back.  They just have got the bug to travel and they are in LOVE with Bellagoi, Italy and that's what they'd rather spend their money on.  In fact, Victoria has a "Bellagio" jar in her room!  She puts ANY money she gets in that jar!  She wants to go back the summer she graduates (2013) and she's saving her money so she can.  She reallizes your "dreams" don't come true without ACTION and I'm SO proud of her for going for her DREAMS!!

Wow, sorry for rambling on...

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I wanted to do a RAK in honor of Webster's Pages and Teresa Collins Designs!!  I think it's appropriate to end my year with a RAK filled with some beautiful designs from both of those companies!!  So, leave a comment on THIS POST and tell me what a DREAM OF YOURS IS!!  I would LOVE to hear them!

Have a WONDERFUL Monday and HUGS to all of you,

 

Laura