Spot of Tea

Happy Halloween

Today is the day of Trick-or-Treat, loads of candy, dressing up in fun costumes and general fun stuff.  We carved pumpkins, finished DD's costume and decorating the yard over the weekend.  DD is going to be dressed as a ladybug this year.  Very cute too.  We don't really do "trick-or-treat"-ing but just visit family and friends houses with plenty of photo ops.  Our church used to have a 'fall festival' instead of trick-or-treating but it kinda phased out since there aren't that many children any more.  It was alot of fun and I hope that something like it will be brought back now that the children 'population' at church is increasing.

I love fall and really enjoyed our gorgeous weather over the weekend.  It was sunny, in the mid-60's and just a touch breezy.  Perfect for playing outside.  We didn't do much of the things we had planned but did enjoy the nice weather just putzing around in our yard.  DD had a blast running thru the raked leaves, giggling while DH and I ran along with her.  I'm hoping to get to the nature trail yet this week since the weather is supposed to continue being so mild.

This weekend saw the return of our Sunday afternoon tea time tradition.  DD and I baked scones, made a plate of little sandwiches (turkey & cheese for the adults and grape jelly for DD), brewed a lovely pot of Keemun tea and had a gorgeous afternoon tea.  We used tea cups and plates from my collection, linen napkins, a lace table cloth, and all the trimmings.  DD, of course, had a splash of tea in her milk that she had to pour herself.  Good thing everything is very washable, including the rug.  I love sharing these little moments with her.  So similar to moments that I recall from my own childhood.  Not big "important" times but one's that bring me joy, comfort and a sense of great love.  I hope that she'll remember these times with as much fondness as I will.

A Friday in the Fall

It is Friday!  The weekend officially begins at 4:30pm for me and I can't wait.  We are supposed to have gorgeous, sunny, mild temperature weather here this weekend.  No work at my main job and only a few hours at Memory Lane on Saturday.  So the plans to visit the pumpkin patch, take in "Boo at the Zoo", go on a color/leaf tour and putz in the garden are a go.  How fun to spend time enjoying the colorful and lovely outdoors on such a weekend.

It is also time to "Fall Back" on Saturday/Sunday.  I so dislike the 'fall back/spring ahead' time change thing.  I have a hard time adjusting to the loss of an hour but love getting the hour back.  At least I used to.  Any time changes with a 2 year old really upsets the schedule now.  We've tried to gradually adjust but that hasn't seemed to work.  I'm sure we'll all be in for an interesting Sunday and the entire week after.

Going to finish all the Halloween prep at home this weekend too.  Pumpkin carving and pumpkin seed baking are on the list.  Need to finish the decorating and get ready for the little trick-or-treat-ers.  DD will go to family and friends houses in her ladybug outfit.  Can't wait to get some photos.

Budget, Budget, Budget

As of yesterday there were only two, yes 2!!, months left until that wonderful holiday of Christmas.  I love this time of year and all of the assorted holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  But getting the family budget ready for Christmas always sends me in a panic.  While I've been "Cruising through the Holidays" with FlyLady and getting my house in order, I'm still getting nervous about the budget. 

I'm pretty good about sticking to our monthly budget, kinda have to be since we are a one income family.  And while my part-time job at the LSS helps our budget it really doesn't add alot.  I've joined a challenge at the 2Peas Pub to limit my scrapping budget.  Only $10/month not including adhesive and I'll probably be on a spending freeze starting in November.  So I'll be able to use most of the LSS paycheck towards Christmas spending.  But the list of people to buy for just keeps growing each year.

I feel so overwhelmed with the presents I "have" to purchase for extended family.  I don't know how to get them to understand that we are a one income family and that we just don't have extra for the $20-$30 x 2 they want us to drop on our annual gift swap.  The large family get together is always fun and a major tradition with our family but it is getting harder and harder to deal with for me.  I know my grandmother, assorted aunts, uncles, and cousins don't really get how tight our budget is.  I have a hard time having to spend money on adults who don't really need anything when I have to really limit what I can spend on my DD just so I can spend money on them.

I guess this all comes down to the fact that I really want to instill in DD what the holidays are about.  Thankfulness, love, family and God's blessings for us.  At least having to keep to a strict budget gives us the oppurtunity to come up with creative ways to celebrate with family and friends.  More handcrafted gifts.  More time spent together doing fun inexpensive or free things.  More thought put into what we are doing and why.

Now that I've thought about it ... I don't need to panic.  We'll have plenty.  Because we'll have each other, our family and our friends.  We don't really need anything else.

'Tis Friday

Friday has arrived and I'm ready for the weekend!!  Well, almost ready.  I still have plenty to get organize and pack for the crop tomorrow.  And I'm so excited to finally get to meet a bunch of 2Peas Pubsters.  This should be a blast and I'll have lots of photos to share once I get home.

Another good thing on this Friday ... we are going visiting friends we haven't seen since August.  Take some videos/DVDs, some popcorn, some pop and just hang out.  First Friday in a LOOOOONG time that we've been able to do this, and I've really missed it.

I've been getting organized for the Holidays also this week.  Yes, I said the big "H" word, Holidays.  I want to have a great, as stress-free as possible Thanksgiving thru New Years holiday season.  Last year was such a nightmare that I really just want a nice low-key, relaxed time this year.  I know the situation isn't the same this year ( the company I worked for - almost 17 years - closed its doors the week before Christmas with no warning and we didn't get our last 2 paychecks) but I still want it to be more about the REAL reason for the season - God, family, gratitude and love.  I've jumped on the FlyLady bandwagon and have started "Cruising Through the Holidays".  It has been fun, easy and so great to feel in-control rather than filled with the usual holiday madness.  Believe it or not, I should have all my gift shopping completed by mid-November.  How cool is that????

Only *3* Days!!

I am so looking forward to the "Michigan" crop this weekend.  I was so sad that I missed the first one when my car decided to go bust.  Since I'm such a planner I've been busy planning for this crop. 

• We are doing an embellishment exchange - I've got a fun little something for it using a new technique I learned a few weeks ago. 
• I've got a few page planners all stuffed full for layouts I might get to - not sure how much I'll actually do, might just be too busy visiting.
• I've got a cookie recipe that just needs to be tried - and who doesn't like a few sweets while they crop?
• I've looked over my budget - I want to make sure I've got the funds for adding some fun stuff to my stash.
• I've made my name tag - it does seem to be 'typically me', even DH said so.
• I still NEED to get some photos developed - or at least print some at home
• I also need to figure out what part of my stash I'm taking for that 'just-in-case-I-wanna-actually-scrap' portion of my brain - do I really need to listen to it???

Does it sound like I'm ready?  I can't wait to meet all the great gals that I've only "talked" to via the 2Peas Pub.  I'm planning on taking my camera (of course) and getting plenty of photos of the crop.  DH thinks it is terribly funny to be taking photos to scrap of a group of us "scrappin' ".

Never Dull

Life is never dull around here what with family, a full-time job, a part-time job, scrappin' and just everyday stuff.  I like to be "busy" but I'm thinking that I might need to slow down a little so I can enjoy more family time and all that everyday type stuff.  I didn't get to go to a surprise birthday party, a wedding, or a baby shower this weekend because of all the other stuff (including working both jobs) that was on schedule.

I'm participating in a little challenge on the 2Peas Pub message board.  There is a group of us that are going to cut way back on our scrappin' budgets.  See THIS post for the full info.  Gonna need lots of support for this since I always want all the new stuff that comes into Memory Lane.  But if I can stick to it that will mean a really nice cushion for the Christmas budget.

It is only ** 5 ** days until the Michigan Crop at The Zone.  I can't wait, it will be my first time to meet some of the 2Peas Pubsters.  I'm making some embellishments for the embellishment swap with a technique I learned at one of Memory Lane's Technique Tuesdays classes.  Can't wait until Saturday.

It's In the Mail

I love getting packages in the mail - doesn't everyone?  I participated in a 2Peas Pubster circle journal project and have been getting the pages for my journal in the mail all week.  It is so cool to see these 8x8 pages of art work.  I'm like an excited little kid around Christmas time when I get home from work, waiting to see if something has come for me to open.  It was fun to work on everyone else's journal but this has to be the best part - seeing first hand what someone did with your theme and adding it to the journal.  We each worked on the pages for the group of journals and mailed them to the individual instead of doing our journals in the "traditional" circle journal fashion.

I'm also taking part in another 2Peas Pubster circle journal, for Michiganders.  This one is set up along the "traditional" lines - send out the entire journal to the next person on the list, work on the one you receive and repeat until you get your original journal back.  I love the theme I came up with for my journal, The Colors of Michigan.  I did an open envelope accoridan album for the journal itself - like in Donna Downey's Creative Albums.  Can't wait to see it when everyone has added their own info/art to the journal.  I'm working on the one I received last week from Stacy - What's In Your Purse.

I've also just gotten the ATC's (Artist Trading Card) in the mail from an ATC swap.  These are awesome little pieces of art - learn more HERE.  Love how they convey the personality of the artist and how unique each one is.  The ATC's I sent to Mary who organized the swap got lost in shipping.  I'm hoping that they will eventually turn up (I was so pleased with how they turned out) but I am making more to send to her just in case.  HERE are the ones I did originally.  They are a great way to use up scraps of patterned paper, cardstock and stickers that would just languish away otherwise.

Another Friday

Wow, can't believe another week has gone by.  And so quickly too.  This past week was busy with work, mostly on 2nd shift.  Part of me really enjoys working later in the day (about 1pm - 9pm) because I get to spend the day with DD.  But another part of me doesn't like working so late because I miss the nightly bedtime ritual with DD.

I had a great time last Friday at Memory Lane.  Got a bunch of layouts done.  A few went to the store as floor displays and the rest went into my Book of Ten (thanks for the great idea Torm).  I've got one layout to redo, the background is just so not the right color.  Love the patterned paper but I'm having the hardest time finding something to work in the background.  I don't usually redo layouts but I really love the photos and want the pages to reflect that.

Tea has been a hot topic all over the place lately.  Some 2Peas Pubsters were discussing hot tea and a bunch of new tea recommendations were made at Tea Thyme.  I am getting ready to order some teas.  I've got a few interesting ones picked out from Harney & Sons - Hot Cinnamon Sunset, Tokyo Blend, Elysie's Blend, Bangkok Blend.  And then I also need a few from Upton Tea Imports - China Keemun Mao Feng, Pu-Erh Tao Cha.  Two of my favs.  And Anne from LiberTeas is sending me a sample of a caramel flavored tea.  Thank you Anne!!!

It was ridiculously hot here in Michigan for much of the week.  In the eighty's.  Yuck!!  It finally cooled down yesterday and last night was gorgeous sleeping weather.  Even cool enough to put on the snuggly Velux blanket.  I have been waiting for Fall to arrive and here it is.  This weekend should be perfect for our "fall cleaning" bonanza.  And next weekend we're going to go on a fall color tour up north.  Should be amazing and in full blown color by then.  And what a great photo op. :)