Christmas Giveaway...

One of my favorite Christmas traditions that we started a few years ago is heading up to Leavenworth in the Cascades on Christmas Day.  It's lovely little Bavarian village nestled in the mountains.  It is decorated so beautifully at Christmas time with Christmas music playing all over town.  Plus there is snow! 

Today I am having my first giveaway! I am giving away two of Norajane's lovely little stamps.  A little snowflake and Nativity scene.  They are both about 5/8 inch wide.  They are perfect for card  making, scrapbooking, gift tags and any other Christmas craft you might be doing.   I love all of Norajane's little stamps. I used the little Nativity scene stamp on the back of my Christmas cards. To win these two stamps all you have to do is post a comment about your favorite Christmas tradition.  The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Saturday, December 1st.  Good luck!  :)

You can also find me on Facebook!

There's an app for that...

Soooooooo, I just discovered the Blogger app for my iPod. Yes, I am sure that it's nothing new and I'm just a little behind. When it comes to technology that's how it usually is with me.

Anyhoo, here is my first post from my iPod! Kind of fun! :)



Happy Sunday everyone!

Tis' the season...

My mom just decorated her house for Christmas. Love that holiday glow!

Have a happy weekend everyone! 

Thanksgiving...

Dad and I working in the kitchen.  His main job is carving the turkey and he always does an amazing job.  I was back there making the gravy.

Add frozen cranberries to sparkling cider and you get a very festive effect.  :)

My father-in-law is never without his camera.  

My mother-in-law Bonita.

My handsome hubby.  They watched America's Funniest Home Video re-runs while they were waiting for the food.

My little sweety pie is sick so he enjoyed lots of cuddling on the couch. 

Daisy was crazy excited about the rolls.  

My brother-in-law Taraz made handcrafted Chai, his own recipe.  It was amazing!

My sister-in-law Ruhiyyih and her hubby Matt.  She is expecting a little girl in February!  This Auntie is very excited!

Daniel with my mom, the photographer. :)

I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!  Let's not forget to be thankful all year long!  

Let the holidays begin! :)

Shoppe News!...

I have some new items now up for sale in my Etsy shop! 

Do you still need to pick up your Christmas cards? Check out these cute little ones lovingly made by me.  :)

I am simply in love with the little red cabin. 

                    Here are some fun little Christmas tree cut outs perfect for all your Christmas paper crafting projects.  The sparkly evergreen ones above are cut from acid and lignin free cardstock.  The assorted pattern ones below are cut form acid and lignin free scrapbook paper. 

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  I am very excited!  The two things I am most thankful for, first my Savior and second my family.  (But there really is about a million things I can be thankful for but that might be a little too long of a post.) Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving everyone!

So cute...

The other day I ordered this sweet little handmade Starbucks charm from Tiny Tinker Industries on Etsy.  All of her little creations are so sweet and she is quite the little artist.  I wore it to work today and all the girls loved it.  :)  You must go take a peak at her shop! 

My dream...

The only thing that would make this setting more perfect is a chimney with smoke floating out. 

https://www.facebook.com/wholesaleloghomes

Lunch with the siblings...

Today was going to be my decorate for Christmas day but there was a happy change of plans.  Rue's brother Taraz is visiting from Denver and sent a text last night asking if he could stop in for a visit today.  Of course!!  When all was said and done it turned into an all Dannells sibling lunch.  (Taraz is the cool guy in the middle of the above picture hugging Daniel.) Taraz, Rahmat, Ruhiyyih and her husband Matt had gone on a hike (in the rain) before hand so they arrived cold and hungry.

I had a big pot of beef stew, spaghetti squash casserole, cookies and Starbucks freshly brewed coffee waiting for them when they arrived.  We had a lovely afternoon visiting and just hanging out and relaxing.  Rue got in a game of Street Fighter 2 with Taraz and the guys also played some Foosball out in the garage.  Ruhiyyih, Daisy and I had a girls' pow wow in Daisy's room discussing plans for the upcoming long holiday weekend.  And I rubbed Ruhiyyih's tummy a lot as she is expecting her first little sweety pie in February! 

Here is Rahmat and Ruhiyyih.  He's tall, handsome and single ladies! :) 

They will all be back on Thanksgiving along with Rue's parents and mine.  Sadly my brother Ben, my sister-in-law Mai and sweet little nephew Charlie won't be able to come all the way from Anchorage.  But hopefully we will be able to do some Skyping with them.  

 

Daniel forlornly watched out the window as everyone left.  Don't worry sweety, they will all be back on Thursday!  :)

My Christmas decorating day has moved to tomorrow.  I went and bought a couple more strings of Christmas lights today after everyone left.  Walmart, in the evening, on a Saturday, is quite crazy, just so you know. 

Happy weekend everyone! 

Fall outing...

Yesterday Daniel and I took off for the day.  Rue would have come but he only slept 5 hours the night before and needless to say did not feel like doing much.  We drove up the Olympic Peninsula towards Port Angeles.  We stopped in Sequim at the Railroad Bridge Park and went on a walk through the fall leaves. 

Daniel loved the fact that we crossed an old railroad bridge.  

It was a delightful Daniel and Momma day.  We stopped at the Joann Superstore in Silverdale on our way home, something that wouldn't have happened if Daddy had come along. ;) (I would have much rather had Daddy with us though.) 

Can you believe Thanksgiving is only a week away?!  Tomorrow is my big grocery shopping day.  I refuse to go to the grocery store any day next week, it's just too crazy.  Thankfully my hubby works at Fred Meyer so if I forget anything he will grab it for me.  :)  And believe it or not I am decorating for Christmas this Saturday!  The past couple of years I have had the house decorated for Christmas when everyone comes over on Thanksgiving and it's been a lot of fun.  I sure love this time of year! 

Business Cards!!...

Look at what I ordered today!!!  They match my blog and everything!  I am so happy I found Rhonda Jai Designs on Etsy.  I am in love with the little birdy design.  Plus I made my first sale from my Etsy shop yesterday!  It's all so exciting!  :)  By the end of this next week I will have my little Christmas cards up for sale!  (Please ignore all the exclamation points.)

Happy weekend everyone!  :)

Woodland Baby Shower...

This past weekend my Aunt Karin threw a baby shower for my beautiful cousin Mary Beth.  Sadly I could not be there since it was down in LA. My mom was able to be there though and took pictures. The decorations made me squeal with delight!  My aunt did an AMAZING job!  I had to share some pictures with you all. 

 

Here's the Momma-to-be.  Isn't she just the cutest pregnant girl you've ever seen?! 

My aunt set up a tree with pictures of Mary Beth and her husband Daniel when they were babies.  Too cute!

 

Love them!

Here is baby Jacoby's Great Gramma!  We have the most beautiful Gramma in the whole world!

The Twinnies

My mom (left) and Aunt Karin/Grammy and designer of this lovely shower (right).