Are we there yet?

And no.................I'm not actually on a trip or taking one..................it's the overwhelming feeling I've had for the past 3-weeks that doesn't seem to want to go away.

Seems to be the "norm" this holiday season. Just about everyone I have talked to has felt completely overwhelmed with a feeling of getting nothing accomplished.

For those that may not know me, I'm a very organized person. My lists have lists & I run circles around my circles. It's my nature & I can't seem to be much different........................until this year?

1) Was it all the blogs I visited where I saw all the beautiful Christmas decorations I just felt I "had" to make?
2) Or was it the Christmas cards I started making about 6-weeks ago & still only got 20 made? 3) Maybe it was the Thanksgiving trip I took which threw our "usual" Christmas tree shopping & putting up to the next weekend?
4) Or still maybe it's the dance team Ashlyn is now on which consumes my every breathing moment?
5) It couldn't possibly be that hubby seems to be in the same state of overwhelmedness & hasn't helped me w/anything this year? Na.......couldn't possibly be that!!

Whatever it is, I took some time one night to veg with some scrapbook magazines. While rereading my Simple Scrapbooks issue, Stacey Julian had written some profound words that hit home: She "simply" stated that maybe she was overwhelmed with all the things she felt she needed to get done, that made her happy, but didn't necessarily mean anything to anyone else." Pretty simple hu?

That's me in a nutshell. I'm willing to bet no one cares, or even notices, I made 20 Christmas cards, I took my girls Christmas picture, I altered 3 foam Christmas trees, made an Advent calendar, a present wreath, ornaments AND miscellaneous birthday cards in between. NOPE!!! I do all these things because it brings me pleasure. I love trying something new, finishing it & then reveling in it's "doneness."

Maybe next year I won't make a danged thing. I bet someone notices then? Have a very blessed Tuesday.......I'm not making anything:)

Don't forget.....................

Today is the last day for Just Let Me Scrapbook's 40% off sale. This includes EVERYTHING!!! Even sale items. Where else can you take 40% off your ENTIRE purchase?

She also restocked new KI Memories Pop Culture & October Afternoon. RUN!!!!!
Sensational 40% Off Sale! Stuff Your Own Stocking! Use the code SYOS40 through Sunday, December 16 to take advantage of this GREAT sale!

xoxo, Mary Beth

Final Christmas decor items

So I promised to post pictures of the present wreath I was making & am glad I made it. Such a dang cute project & I have Ms. Leah Fung to thank for the idea & directions. I'm going to use mine to showcase some Christmas photos that we are sent. We usually get a ton of Christmas photos, so I'll have to be selective, but you get the idea. The cute paper bow is also another idea of Leah's. I made several of them & then realized they didn't match any of my presents, so it ended up on my wreath:)

I'm almost finished with Christmas shopping & still have one more gift I want to make. I feel like I'm running out of time, but I just don't feel pressured. I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season thus far & remember to slow down & enjoy it!!!

I know what I'm getting for Christmas!!!!

And it's so not fair!!! See.....................I *LOVE* surprises. I enjoy giving people a list of ideas so long, I will have no idea what I'm going to get. But this year, no surprise:(

I finally went to the local camera store to talk with someone about my lense situation. This is after doing research on the net, which only further confused me. The lady was so nice & helpful and I left knowing what lense I wanted, but for the price, knew I wasn't going to get!! So, for now, I settled for the 60 mm f/2.8 Macro USM, along with a Speedlite 430EX flash.

Since dh is so not in the Christmas spirit this year, he made ME pull this information up on the computer, put them in the shopping cart & then he finished the transaction. "Should I wrap it for you too honey?"

I know it sounds like I'm complaining and really I'm not. I'm excited about my new camera equipment & have a few other camera related items I need now, such as a new camera bag & "Digital SLR Cameras & Photography for Dummies." Pretty appropriate hu? I just really, really, really *LOVE* surprises.....................*sigh.*

I'm still making some holiday crafts. I got the idea for this tree while getting ready one morning (though I'm sure someone else has already thunk it). It didn't take me too long to do.....maybe 30 minutes......tops. So, super easy. I wanted to do the snow because we don't get snow in FL, not to mention it's been in the upper 70's this entire week. I'm also working on a present wreath that I'm thinking of giving to my sister? We'll see how it turns out, but so far so good & I'll post a picture when I'm finished.

Here's hoping you have a wonderful, blessed Thursday.

40% off Sale

Most of you know I'm on the design team for Just Let Me Scrapbook. She is always running awesome deals. Here's another one you don't want to miss & she's just added new KI Memories Pop Culture & October Afternoon. RUN!!!!!

Sensational 40% Off Sale! Stuff Your Own Stocking! Use the code SYOS40 through Sunday, December 16 to take advantage of this GREAT sale!

xoxo, Mary Beth