Good Morning!!!  Have you all survived?  Are you still eating leftovers? (we are...love them...)

I've had a few days to rest after the BIG DAY and I'm feeling much better.  Whew...I was a tired girl there for a couple of days.

I'm going to Cinnamon's Quilt Shoppe today to do a little sewing with many of my friends.  I'm taking FUDGE with me (it must leave this house).  It's such a temptation when you are dieting (of all times...during the holidays).  I'm up to 29 pounds that are GONE and I don't ever want to see them again.  Now... to keep on plugging away...calorie by calorie!

Have you begun your TO DO list for the new year?  I have and it's VERY LONG.  Oh my...it's kind of mind boggling.  However, I keep telling myself it keeps me happy and younger.

I have a big quilting retreat that I'm sponsoring coming up the end of January - 160 will be in attendance!!  Can you believe that?  It's so amazing.. and the best part is...everyone has a ball just working on their own projects.  Gosh it's nice to get UFO's done. 

Then.... there is the dreaded task of taking down the tree, sorting through all of the decorations (purging this year) and packing everything up.  I would rather spend all day in the dentist chair (I really LOVE my dentist...so NICE and GOOD LOOKIN" !!!) Plus... there is NO PAIN with him.  Now.. the Christmas clean up... that is painful to me!

THEN... my darling husband is on this kick... "Let's Clean Out The Garage"!  What's up with that?  Isn't it usually the wife that harps on the husband about the garage?  He wants my 'stuff' out of there so he has more room to move around.  My question is... why?  What does he plan on doing out there?  He hasn't worked in our garage on projects in over 15 years.  I'm scrathin' my head... I am clueless.

So... we have some wonderful friends that have an auction house... I'm going to get stuff ready and take to them.  They specialize in antiques and primitives - and I have plenty that I am no longer attached too... so it's time to say "good-bye".

I'm off to get my sewing packed up and head out! 

Everyone have a great day!!  Keep Sewing.

Gloria

Good Morning... Today is December 24 - Christmas Eve Day.  Have you ever had one of those nights when you tossed and turned because you knew you had a million things to do the next day.  Yepper... that was my night last night!  I lay in bed... making a mental list of things to do.  However, if your memory is anything like mine... I know when I get up in the morning I will have forgotten half of what was to be on my list.  So.... it's better to just get up and make the list - WRITE IT DOWN!  That was my intention this morning at 3:30 am.  Once I did that I thought to myself...hhhmmm... it sure would taste great to have a cup of coffee!  That was it.. I've been up ever since and it's now 7:50 am.

It's amazing what I can get done in the morning.  I have already answered tons of email, read my Pinterest Posts (love them!) baked oatmeal raisin cookies, 2 loads of laundry, made deviled eggs, cleaned out the spice cabinet (geeze louise... some of those spices were OLD... into the garbage they went.  Plus.. I found 3 bottles of vinegar - why 3 I have no idea!  2 salts, 2 ginger (hardly ever use that)..plus more weird things I won't bore you with).

Plus.... I made HOMEMADE FRENCH ONION SOUP!  One of my favorite soups.  I'm serving it on Christmas day... topped with a slice of yummy bread - smothered in melted cheese.  I found the recipe on Pinterest.  It's fabulous!!!  I'll post the recipe after the holidays... you must make it.  My hubby tasted it and said it was wonderful (and he doesn't lie...).  Once the bread and cheese are on the top it will be SUPER!!!

AND... I've been wanting to try this new recipe ... so I have everything prepared for this evening's dinner.  I used baby asparagus - wrapped with thin, thin ham then cook on the grill with olive oil.  One cooked you drizzle with a balsamic vinegar/mustard recipe!  I'll let you know how it turns out. (found this on Pinterest too..!)  I told my hubby I felt like a chef this morning...had pots cooking on the stove, oven pumping out cookies.. FUN!!   I really could be a chef... wonder if I'm too old to learn?  (shake it off Gloria... you have too many irons in the fire now...)

I want to wish each of you and your family a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I know that this year has been VERY tough for many of us, and I pray that 2012 is much better.  May your hearts be filled with the love of Jesus and may you enjoy the company of your loved ones throughout this holiday season.

Love to you and your family!

Gloria

Something FUN EACH DAY - 2012

Remember Julie and Julia...where Julie made one of Julia's recipes each day .. then blogged about the experience?  Well... It's 3:20 am and I just woke up from a wonderful dream!  Remember how I told you I have been hooked on  -

  ????????

I've found so many wonderful things that should be shared with you... I'm going to share one or two.. or more each day beginning January 1, 2013!!!  Honestly... you will love it... TRUST ME!!  It will be fun things, informational stuff that you just can't live without, yummy recipes... you name it...

So... if you're not "following" my blog - be sure to do so..!

Then you can share what you've learned with your friends... and have them follow my blog also.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - January 1

Blog with me and learn what I've learned from all of my friends on --- > !!!

Oh... you can also follow my PINS!! 

Can't wait!

Gloria

I've made out my "food" list for Christmas Day... I love cooking for the gang!!  What's on your list?  Look at these cool trees I'm making to surround my sisters "Strawberry Cake"  Won't it be ooohhh....sssooo.... pretty?

I thought it would also be cool (next time) to sprinkle some edible, sparkley glitter on the trees!

I'll take a picture of our finished product and post it after Christmas.

Then.. we'll have a yummy ham, macaroni and cheese (my daughter-in-law makes the best.. FROM SCRATCH!), Potato and corn casserole, deviled eggs, baked beans, yummy rolls, pumpkin pie, FUDGE (my sister's... best in the world)!!!  Plus... I'm sure I will think of several other dishes we must have!!

What's your favorite meal to fix on Christmas?

Better yet...what is your favorite Christmas memory?  We were asked this at a retreat I just attended and it was so wonderful to hear the memories!

Mine... I can still see her... a sweet doll that had HAIR!!  Normally our dolls were on the less expensive side...and only came with the rubber head - no actual hair.  She was jointed in the shoulders and hips... kind of chubby and limp when you held her.  The funny thing is.. I can still remember how wonderful she smelled... you know.. the smell of "rubber dolls".  But to me... she smelled like Christmas Heaven.

Make memories with your family... especially your children and grandchildren.  It's the best gift you can give each other ... and most of the time...it has no monetary value.  Just love.....

Merry Christmas and Blessings to all......

OH MY GOSH!!!!

I've found a new and wonderful way to get my creative brain cells movin' and groovin'!  Have you all heard of the new and fun program called - "Pinterest"?


  

 Here is there logo.... and a little about what this new FABULOUS program can do!

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

What Can You Do with Pinterest?

Redecorate your Home!

Joy uses Pinterest to save decorating ideas for her new home in LA. She saves patterns, furniture, and accessories that catch her eye.

Plan a Wedding!

Divya and Ben use Pinterest to plan their wedding. Their Moms can leave comments about the dresses, flowers, and ties they pin up.

Find your Style!

Tim uses Pinterest to share his personal style. He pins clothing, shoes and accessories he finds while browsing stores and fashion blogs.

Save your Inspirations!

Sha uses Pinterest to save design inspirations for his job. He can reference inspiring design work to share with his team at Trulia.

Save Your Recipes!

Jessica uses Pinterest to discover new gluten free recipes. She always has a collection of tasty appetizers and desserts she can cook when she’s hungry and looking for ideas.

Pinterest Mission

Our goal is to connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting. We think that a favorite book, toy, or recipe can reveal a common link between two people. With millions of new pins added every week, Pinterest is connecting people all over the world based on shared tastes and interests.

Go to the web site and read all about it... you're gonna love it!  Read all about Pinterest!!

Check out my boards and see what I've already been inspired to collect for future projects, cooking fun, and... well... you name it!!

See you "pinning"!!

Gloria