Contests, Giveaways, Christmas Crazy!

(this is me raging against the darkness of winter)

Hi!

The days are getting LONGER!!  hOOrAY!!

Today is December 22.  I was off yesterday, and thought I would get so much accomplished (and I did), but you can never do enough this time of year!


Here's what I did:


1-Slept In!  (important this time of year)


2-Checked email  (I woke up to 43 emails!!  WHAT?!)*


*I will say that this time of year, one great way to waste time (my dad would say that--I really enjoy it!  haha) is to go to all the blogs, FAcebook Pages, ads, and everything else to see what contests are going on...I actually WON a cardigan from Fresh Produce earlier this fall for leaving a comment on Facebook! 

Today, The Vintage Pearl is offering a drawing for $100 gift certificates (hope, hope!)--love their jewelry

Tim Holtz yesterday was giving out product (didn't win!)

I've won some fabric from Kate Spain--can't WAIT to see that!


It's so much fun!  and--it's not like Publisher's Clearinghouse where you NEVER hear, and they NEVER show up--haha!

these drawings are fast and fun.  Good luck everyone!
now--BACK TO OUR BLOG--



3-Had a shower,  then Immediately,



4-Dug into my studio getting back to the piecing of quilt blocks seemingly without end...


                            (2 Types, 42 of each!)  BA-RUTHER!  And yes,


in my delusional state of Christmas denial, I believed I could finish this quilt before Christmas, go on to another, finish that, AND complete a sample for Greenbaum's (!)




okay, well, I DID get the quilt blocks done, and I'm onto the cutting of the sample quilt...WHICH I CAN KNOCK RIGHT OUT!


I will have to skip the middle one for now.  Maybe that will just be a fun 'whatever' gift for the recipient.  hmmm.


And, another thing--do I take photos of all this?  No, I didn't because the person reads my blog, and might figure things out.  




mwahahahaha!

(a Rose in my Yard in November is AWESOME!)

I do have other fun news:


Have you heard of Brave Girls Club?  It is a wonderful site with daily encouragements, affirmations, classes, camps, forums which was started by Melody Ross, and her sister, Kathy Wilkins.  They're trying to 'bring the light' to others (mostly women-but there are brave Boys too). 



This year they are all about 'AWESOME!'  Inviting people to post their favorite moments, people, meaningful-ness to their site, as well as photos.  I sent in several photos, and Kathy emailed me to let me know they wanted to use them, but they hadn't come through.  She left her phone number on her email, and I called her and SPOKE TO KATHY ON THE PHONE!!


AND--she knew who I was!


And she likes me!  It was like talking to a celebrity, but I know she's really just a normal person--haha!--i'm so silly.


Anyway, I got the kinks worked out, and the photos resent, and I think they'll be in a Christmas video from Brave Girls.  I'll be posting them here for you to see.

So-that was definitely day-off excitement!!

Then, I also made some homemade bean and ham soup  (leftover ham bone from the Honey-Baked at Thanksgiving), and tried making a batch of No-Bake Cookies
(recipe from www.foodnetwork.com --recipe courtesy of Helen Ostrosky)
...I think I'll just post it here for you and you'll be saved the 'look-up!


Ingredients**

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 cups oatmeal
• Waxed paper

Directions

In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.

**I changed it up a bit because I didn't have the white milk, just chocolate milk, AND I added dried cranberries for fun...and it tastes pretty great! Here's another idea...adding instant coffee to the chocolate mix, OR dried blueberries, Peanuts, or m&m's.






Below is a photo I'm extremely Proud of...




I took this last winter after the Greenbaum's Retreat in Newport.  Caught this bike right outside Panini, the gourmet bakery in Nye Beach, where, if you want Peanut Butter and Jelly Scones, great espresso, and a smile from a hunk who surfs; named, Gabe--


That's WHERE to GO!
<><><><>

(A purple bike at the Beach in Winter is AWESOME!!)

Right now, looking out the window, I'm confronted by the never-ending cold specter of Pearl-Grey foggy December...it's cold and damp, and guess what?!! The furnace at work doesn't work right!

No Problemo! 

There are fantastic guys who take care of me, and i have TWO, count 'em TWO space heaters going all day.  It works pretty well, and I have access to more if I need them. 

Oh!  I'm going back to last Friday's blog, and enter some fun photos I took there.  Then, I'll be working on an altered book which I'll show you some photos of.

(have I wrapped any presents yet/  NOPE!...Christmast is DAYS away!  right?!!)