through the lens.

I am so stinkin' spoiled.

Not only did I get a beautiful ring for Christmas *sigh* :), I got an amazing lens for my camera from my parents. I was like a kid in a candy store. It was a nikkor lens...55-200.

I am really excited because I'll get to take better pictures of all the animals and birds. I took the one above through my kitchen window. I can't wait for the deer to come out. (they are only sneaking around at night right now...stinkers!)
I also got a million hair products from my sister, so my hair is finally looking hot when I do it!...and a hot purse and lots of earrings. Craig's parents spoiled me and got me gloves, socks, pencil holder and an Ikea gift card. :) I can't wait to go shopping. I am totally spoiled.
Craig also got me adorable owl and moon sterling silver earrings. He jokes saying they are my "vampire earrings" since I am so into the Twilight series...which I finished...sad, I want there to be more books.

Thank you so much to everyone! This Christmas has been the best ever...just like Craig promised :)

could it be?

WE'RE ENGAGED!!

I am so happy. He is so happy.

We are so in love.

great minds.

Yesterday, as you know...I was able to escape and do some Christmas shopping. I hit Old Navy (got some stuff for me) :), Target, Fred Meyer and Borders.

While at Borders things got a little tricky for me. I was shopping for Craig and who do you know shows up! I was ducking and diving in the aisles trying to steer clear. After all, I had a present for him in my hand. I finally peaked up from behind a display and it looked like the coast was clear. I got the book...shoved it in my purse...whew! (In the meantime I had forgotten to get him a gift card I was going to get...oh well). I went and stood and looked at the magazines and spotted him again, wondering if he was going to see me...nope.

I decided to leave and as I was walking through the parking lot he was backing out...still didn't see me.

Later that night, I decided to give him the book I bought him. It was Rick Warren's The Purpose of Christmas. I thought it would be nice for him to have in the season.
I handed him the package and he looked at me with a bit of a smirk. He weighed it in his hand and then said, "So, what if I got you the same thing?"
He opened the corner of the package and saw the red book peeking through the paper. He got up. Went to the spare bedroom and came out smiling with the same book in his hand.

Turns out, we were at Borders at the same time buying each other the same book.

I think I'll keep him :)

YES!

I am going to leave my house! I am going to drive my car!

I have had the mantra of "melt...melt...melt" in my head for the past few days.

The snow has finally melted enough (thanks to the yucky rain) and I'm going to get to go Christmas shopping...and maybe even finish it!

I don't have a lot of people to buy for. My family has decided to only buy gifts for immediate family, so its just the finishing touches.

I get to go to...

I hear from numerous people it was CRAZY there yesterday, but I am ready to fight...I'm sassy today and don't care if I have to walk from Pizza Hut to get in the doors.
Have a good day all...I know I will! :)

Had to throw a baby in there...my ovaries are aching.

tacos for dinner.

This is my "backyard." I'm stuck at home...I don't think I can complain. Craig left for the day to go play in the snow with his friends (he's 4-wheeling...not snowman building, he'd probably want me to include that) :). Crystal Cat and I decided to go for a walk. She followed me out the backdoor and was very careful to walk in my footprints. She is now snuggled up on a pile of 3 blankets in the living room...she's living the life.

I got some baking done today (Sugar Cookies and Molasses).

I really want to go to town to get some dragees. I still need to decorate my cookies and I heart dragees.

Now I need to get some housework done, but I am completely uninspired.

Oh, and I'm happy...tacos for dinner.

snow day.

It was a great day...I woke up and knew I wasn't going to work right away (at least!). I was right...no work.

I did a few things for work that I could from home and Craig and I took his pick-up down to the shop, threw a heavy steel wheel in the back and decided to go for a drive.

We hit Hwy. 20 and headed to the Blodgett Store for a pop.

Got my Diet Coke and Craig got his Dr. Pepper and we headed up Tum Tum Road...

Drove back home and met Craig's mom on the driveway {hi Susan!}. She had left homemade cookies for us at home and invited us to dinner...Beef Stew and Sourdough bread! (It was so yummy and perfect for this cold day).
did more stuff for work...
Then went for a walk to get the mail. We stopped by Craig's parents and picked up Lexi (I think that's spelled right?).

Craig's parents have beautiful property! I love living out here!
Got back home and Craig made a big snowball...while I watched (hey! I didn't have good gloves!)
then played a lil...

Now, we are back home. It's quiet, I'm tired.

snow!

and it's still snowing! :)

and Craig is happy because I made cookie frosting...it's a good day.

elf yourself.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

kambria's fabulous style.

I found this on Hostess with the Mostess.

It reminds me so much of Kambria's style...turquoise and red...i die.

I believe most, if not all, of this came from Target. love.

and yes...it is 4:45 in the morning...I can't sleep!

yay!

he's home. :)

baby tree.

Lately I have been getting bursts of energy at about 11 o'clock at night. Well, tonight I finally finished my little tree for the bedroom. I love having Christmas lights in the bedroom...so cozy.

Goodnight! :)

new-do.

Thank you Missy...for making my hair rock!

p.s. i found a new obsession in photoshop textures! This is just the beginning. (these are pretty weak). If you heart Photoshop go to deviantart.com and search Photoshop textures, brushes, actions...and start rocking your photos.

and yes...these are dorky photos, but it's all I got for now :)

packages.

If you're giving cookies for Christmas, consider making them a extra special with some pretty packaging ideas...

Martha Stewarts packaging station...i die.

use boxes or even find (or create) a label for a brown bag...like these from papertreats.

from Happyheartsdesign...

littlebrownpen...

everyone loves cookies no matter what, but have fun and use your creativity and make it yours! :)

Happy Packaging!

inspired.

I love giving homemade gifts for Christmas. This year...hasn't happened yet.

One of the best of these homemade gifts is photographs.

I love photography and I am definately an amateur at it. I greatly admire those that have the skill to capture an image in everyday life and make it art.

2 photographers i love...

I hope you guys don't mind that I borrowed a couple photos to show off your fantastic work!

If you do...just kick my butt :)

Angela of Cardas Photography

Angela is amazing. She shoots at our Boys & Girls Club events and we get so excited to see what she saw through her lense. She also does some of the most amazing wedding photography I have ever seen! Definately captures such emotion in her photography. I die.

Meghann of Your Street Photography

Meghann is based out of Portland Oregon, but grew up in Albany.

She is an amazing artist who creates brilliant works of art with her photographs.

I am definately a Photoshop fanatic, so her work definately inspires.

(the top and bottom photo are self portraits...amazing.)

So please, go check out these girls sites...and if you have events coming up, keep them in mind!

In the meantime...pick up your camera, capture life and share it with someone as a gift.

surprise...and pay it forward.

I had such a wonderful surprise today in my mailbox!! I'm so excited!

My dear friend and blogger superstar, Anne, sent me a "pay it forward" package. I have got to say it made me feel so great! It's so thoughtful and this time of year (especially when I am so exhausted) it was perfect.

Thank you so much Anne for your kindness!

I'd like to continue to pay it forward to the first three people who post a comment. So comment away...there is a treat awaiting.

bad blogger.

(I stole these pictures from Kambria's Blog)

I have been a bad blogger. But I have a reason...It's this...Celebration of Trees Event at work.

(If you look really closely, like with a microscope, I am in the front of the crowd on the other side of the gym)

The Event went well and the trees were beautiful. Tomorrow is pack up day for the trees and then we are finally done. I'm wiped out (and I didn't even work today!)

I will be a better blogger by Tuesday...promise :)

holiday sillouette.

I love this project I found on Project:Domestic Bliss. Nikki found this sillouette in Ballard Design and decided she could make it.

She used simple and inexpensive pieces; such as red and white posterboard and canvas frame sides.

Ballard Design: $60.95

Project:Domestic Bliss: $9.53

Awesome.

Follow the link to Nikki's site above to get step by step instructions. She also has joined a group "Nifty Under 50" It's a challenge to create all her Christmas gifts for under 50 bucks! If you email her, she will send you a link to her "secret site."

*sigh*

i'm totally in daydream land today.

and it's not about the ring, but what the ring represents.

i am so blessed and happy that i have found the one my soul loves and i can't wait to spend my life with him.

he is amazing, silly, intelligent and warm...oh, did i mention stinkin' adorable.

i love him.

...now i just wait. *grin*

p.s. if you are wondering, those are Tiffany rings. i die.

Molasses Cookies.

Molasses cookies are such an excellent holiday treat. I found the best recipe from Martha Stewart (yes, she rocks the cookie recipes). They got rave reviews from my dad after we lost the traditional Molasses recipes...that means they are GOOD! :)

Ingredients
Makes 36
2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.
Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.
Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

I like to get Sugar in the Raw to roll the cookie dough balls in (after I roll it in granulated sugar to get the sweetness)...makes it pretty. You can find it at any grocery store.

Enjoy! :)

vintage Christmas.

I love vintage Christmas...all decades! Check out these fabulous finds from Etsy...links included :)

Napcoware Santa from Jenscloset

Vintage Pyrex from sunnybrookfarmdesign
Treetopper from echoart Santa mugs from myretrochristmas Angel from efinegifts
Rhinestone deer from PassTheSalt

Santa & Mrs. Claus musical figurine from PattycakesPlunder

I love kissing angels...I found these on flickr, I couldn't find any cute ones on sale.