Sara, you are a sweetie!

Oh my gosh, Sara (chicagogirl at SCS) nominated ME for a Kreativ Blogger Award! I can't believe it... I don't know what I did to deserve such an honor, but I am truly humbled by the nomination! Thank you, Sara, you made my day!!!

Here are the rules:
1. the winner may put the logo on their blog
2. put a link to the person that sent you the award
3. nominate 5 blogs
4. put links to their blogs
5. leave a message for your nominee

There are so many blogs that I love and am inspired by that it is very hard to narrow it down to just five choices! Here are my nominees:
1- Sara, of course! (Sara Stamps)
2- Suzanne Dean (Scrap Bitz)
3- Bev (All the Things That I Love)
4- Michelle Rodgers (Stampers Dream Blog)
5- Katharina Frei (Stamping With a Whiff of Joy)

Thanksgiving

I've been busy sanding and refinishing (and re-upholstering) my dining room chairs so they'd look nice for Thanksgiving. Silly me, there's no way I'll have them all done in time, so I'm going to have to throw chair covers over them.

My DS sent this to me. I had to laugh, since we've been on a mission to eat and live a healthier lifestyle. Enjoy!

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now, so drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's the Holidays!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Pecan. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Baby Girl Card

Here's the card to go with the gift, below. I had a lot of fun making this one! Last year, in anticipation of Christine's baby being born (in June), I bought a pack of the baby alphabet beads, so I could use them on the card.

This went together fairly quickly (for me!), since I used all pattern paper for the front. I don't know the manufacturer of the paper that says "Sweet baby girl" used for the top, or I'd give credit.

The paper on the bottom says "oh so sweet", which I thought was oh so appropriate for this baby! LOL She really is special. Anyway, I edged the pink plaid paper with a SU scallop punch, tied on the organza ribbon and fastened the "Welcome" label (cut/embossed with Nesties Label die) with sugared brads. The beads were strung on silver thread and tied securely to the brads before they were fastened to the card. Some Prima flowers and Martha Stewart pearls completed it.

Cardstock: Card base- Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Card background- Paper Co. pink
Pattern Paper: Top of card- Unknown, Bottom of card- Me and My Big Ideas, Middle of card- HOTP
Stamp: Alpha stamp- The Little Classic Rubber Stamp Mini's
Ink: VersaMagic "Pixie Dust" chalk ink
Embellies: Flowers- Prima, Sugar brads- OTC, Large pearls- Martha Stewart, Organdy ribbon- gift from Michelle Rodgers at Stamper's Dream