Secret Santa

I participated in a Secret Santa exchange that was hosted by Nicole of Lillyella.  I've never done an online Secret Santa but it was a lot of fun-and challenging too trying to come up with a gift for someone that I don't know! I hope my person likes my gifts as much as I love what I received.

So my Secret Santa is Sandrine of La Boite a Bijoux. She makes awesome vintage style jewelry. I received the cutest pair of earrings and a handmade print and card. Sandrine is super talented. :)  

Ooh, I wonder what's wrapped inside of that velvety tissue paper!

What a lovely print, or it can also be a post card. The colors are just fabulous. I'm going to frame it and put it in my bedroom.

Love this pair of earrings!

Thank you Sandrine! Be sure to check out her shop on Etsy.

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland

I hope your Christmas has been as fabulous as mine was! Here in my part of North Carolina we got around 6 inches of snow. This is a lot for us at any time of year! It was just one of the nice surprises that awaited me on Christmas day (more on the second later).

Here are some pics of our winter wonderland...

Ooh, pretty!

In my opinion, the city did an awesome job of clearing the roads (unlike our friends up north!) 

Me and the Mister went trekking thru the 'hood. Can you tell that the Mister doesn't like the cold?!

Is it just me or is this snowman giving us the bird?? Or maybe it's a peace sign??

I hope your holidays are awesome!

...Is your Blogger super slow uploading pics???

Christmas Party

Each year my work has two Christmas parties: one for the adults, the second for the kids. The latter is usually more fun. :) Here are some pics from the annual NB Children's party. Oh, forgot to mention that I took my sister, niece, and nephew.  Our party was at the North Pole. Such a winter wonderland!
We saw:

Santa's sleigh filled with presents. I tried not to peek!

Polar bears and presents, oh my!

We visited the local sweet shop and those that were brave enough could even get a tattoo!

Of course my niece got a snowflake...on her face! I hope that doesn't foretell of what's to come when she's older! :)

We even saw Santa and put in some last minute requests with the big guy. :)

And there was so much to do!

Lee and Lorali boxing on Wii. My niece kicks a$$...no, really, she does!

There was Nascar racing. Lee and his new friend talking strategy, although I 'm not sure Lee was going for it.

A classic favorite-Skeeball! Lorali has quite an arm on her. Watchout innocent bystanders!

Look at that angelic face on my nephew-and there's even a halo! :)

And there was plenty to eat. Anything a child might desire: nachos, hotdogs, tacos, chicken nuggets (my personal favorite), spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, chololate milk, a candy bar buffet....

...And last but not least: ICE CREAM!!!!

What a sight it was to see all those kids with sugar highs running to and fro! All this talk of food is making me hungry...is it lunchtime yet? Wait, it is! See ya later. Happy Holidays everyone.

Decorating for Christmas

On Saturday where I live in North Carolina we got snow. Yes, snow, actual snow! Not sleet, or ice, or freezing rain but snow! Huge white flakes and they were gorgeous. It's very exciting because we don't usually get snow this time of year.

Well, the snow event also coincided with my annual cookie party. Some of the girls come over, we play reindeer games, munch on goodies, play a little dirty santa, and then pack our tins full 'o cookies to snack on for the week. Since my house was clean for the cookie party I took some pics of my decorations to share with you. I just love this time of year, and snowmen are my absolute favorite!

Dining room with Christmas tree. I love a LOT of ornaments on the tree!

Mantel. Complete with everyone's stockings; mine, Buffy & ChiChi's, and Lizzy, the cat.

My snowman centerpiece that I made for less than $7. I LOVE it! Isn't he a cutie? :)

My townhouse isn't very big so that's about it. C-ya next time!

Oh Bother!...And Other Random Thoughts

*Sigh*...As Pooh would say, "Oh bother!".  Me and pity are having a party. I just feel so invisible on Etsy. And ArtFire is a joke-ha! I feel like I do all the things that successful sellers say they do to pimp their shops, but mine is just not catching on...What did you do before your shop really caught on? I mean, there has to be a day, a moment when you realized that your shop had made it...right?...

Enough of that, pity party is over. Did you have a good Thanksgiving? Oh I did. Did you get out in the Black Friday madness? I did NOT. I stayed in all day on Friday decorating for Christmas. I put up my tree with my new ornaments that I got from Sam's. This year I put a whole bunch of decorations on my tree just like the trees that I saw at Cracker Barrel. I love it!

Well, I didn't get out in the Black Friday madness but I did go out on Saturday. I've had my eye on a Cricut or Slice for some time. I was able to snag a Slice from Ollie's Bargain Basement on Saturday but now I'm having second thoughts thinking that maybe I should've gotten a Cricut. I'm always second guessing my decisions...Any thoughts on Slice vs. Cricut?

While I was out I also stopped by Kohl's and got this cutie. Isn't he adorable? I put him in my room.

I also got some much needed clothes for me to wear to work. Why does it seem like I always need clothes? I wish I could be super smart like my girl Sally Ann. Check out her blog here. This whole year she has shopped only at thrift stores for her wardrobe, making things super cute by adding her own personal flair. She is an awesome seamstress and can make anything look good! I sew envy her. :>)

I did get a little crazy at work today and order my Christmas present to myself-a new camera! I hope it's really good. I actually saw it on QVC and it was just super awesome. Whew, those hosts on QVC sure can sell you anything, now can't they? But I actually ordered my camera from Walmart.com. It was the same exact camera but cheaper at Walmart. I justified it as a business expense that will allow me to take better pics thus improving sales. :) I'm crossing my fingers!

Random Things

I've been super busy with craft shows and trying to get my shop ready for the holidays that I haven't written in a while. I thought that a Random Things post would be quick and easy!

1.  I love the fall season here in North Carolina, especially the cool, crisp air and beautiful colors that the leaves change to. From October thru December is my favorite time of year!

2.  My car must have a sign on it that everyone except me can see that says "Hey moron, pull out in front of me!" 'Nuff said.

3.  If I could, I would adopt every dog/cat/other animal at the shelter and provide them a loving home. As Bob Barker would say, "Don't forget to spay or neuter your pet!"

4.  I wish I lived in an old shabby chic cottage, out in the middle of nowhere so I wouldn't be surrounded by not so nice neighbors. And there would be plenty of room for my girls to run and play.

5.  I wish we could eliminate this sense of division that runs rampant throughout our world. I mean, why can't we all just play nice and be friends?

6.  And on a lighter note, or maybe not, lol, I ate Zaxby's for lunch and it was sooooo good!

7.  And as I am typing this right now, we are under a torndado watch! The weather has been crazy here these past few days.

And these are truly random things!

...Um, is this thing on.....? So, it's been a while since I've posted. I've just been super busy. That being said, have you ever felt like you were super busy but then when asked about what you've been doing the response is "nothing". :)  Work just takes a lot out of me-I wish I didn't have to do it, but such is life. I always say that I'm waiting to win the lottery but since I never play it my chances of winning are pretty much nil....Hmm, why is this post sounding sorta like a bitch session? I really don't mean it to.

I just feel so random today...guess that's what Monday's do to me........

On the store front, I've committed myself to a very aggressive show schedule this fall. I have a show like every weekend! Fall is the best time to do shows. I'm a wimp in the outside heat of spring and summer...fluffy girls and hot weather just don't get along. :)

Ooh, this past weekend I went to the Habitat for Humanity store. I was actually looking for a wooden picture frame that I could make into a hair pin display but didn't find what I was looking for. I did find two awesome light fixtures-the kind that go over the dinner table-but didn't get them. One was vintage and made out of wicker, i think. And it was only $4 but I didn't get it because there was paint all over the piece that goes against the ceiling and I wasn't sure how to get it off. The other light was glass and it was in the shape of a flower, but it was $35. Not too shabby, i think, but being that I know nothing about replacing a light fixture I didn't get it either because if it wouldn't work the store doesn't accept returns.

But I did buy these awesome knobs for my kitchen drawers. I just love them! They are perfect with my kitchen because it's painted yellow.

And i also found this awesome metal fruit basket, and it spins a la lazy susan style. It was only $2! I'm thinking of somehow using it for craft shows....

Ta ta for now!

What To Do, What To Do...And Treasuries

Hello! Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to do today, whether I'm going to hit the Bush Hill Heritage Festival in Archdale, NC, or whether I'm just gonna hang out around the house today. The festival was selected as a top 20 event for 2010 by the Southeast Tourism Society, but right now I'm kinda leaning towards just hanging out, lol. I have a ton of stuff I need to list for my Etsy shop but, I don't know. Maybe I'll just tune everything else out and hang out on the couch with a good book today. I'm reading one by Jonathan Kellerman called Evidence. It's a couch curler. Don't know what a couch curler is? It's a good book that makes you want to curl up on the couch with it. :)

...And I don't know what is going on with my refrigerator. As I'm sitting in the kitchen typing this it's making funny noises. Sort of a moaning or whining noise...That can't be good right? Or is that just what fridge's do and I never noticed it before? It kinda sounds like there's something in there crying out for help. The last thing I need is a major expense right now-or some supernatural fridge demon. I'm just getting over the traumatization of being told I was going to have to buy a new car. Some old guy hit mine and his insurance company was trying to total my car! At least he had insurance, right? Sad thing is is that my ride is fixable but the value on it is low-repair costs were more than the value of the car and you know insurance-not gonna pay out more than they have to. Well, the insurance guy saw how distressed I was over the thought of having to buy a new ride and was able to work out a deal with the repair center. So, that is good news. In the meantime I have a rental that I have grown attached to. I wish they would just let me keep it...say...an even  trade once mine is fixed. :) I like to think of it as compensation for my troubles...I doubt they will go for it though. :( I've grown accustomed to air conditioning (mine is broken and the cost of fixing it is super ridiculous), and it's super roomy for all my craft show stuff. *sigh* Note to self: Must not get attached to rental car!

And on the shop front I'm in two treasuries this week! That's pretty awesome since I don't usually make it into a lot of them. I mean, some sellers, seems like every time you go to the Etsy home page, there's another one of their items in someone's treasury...Is that the bitter monster rearing his head this morning? Probably...but I digress....It's just nice to know that some people do enjoy my stuff. :)

Check out this treasury by Allys Antiques. My Pink Lace earrings made it into this one.

And then I'm in this treasury by LorietteGrammy. Another pair of earrings made the cut, my Lemony Goodness earrings...

Now, off to ??? I don't know, still have decided what I'm going to do today...

BoxTops!

Scavenger Hunt! I am calling upon all my blogging buddies...I collect BoxTops for my niece and nephew's school. I know you've seen these things when you go to the grocery store. If you're not familiar with the program, it's basically this: For everyday products that you are probably already using, a 10 cents donation will be made to your local school. It's like free money folks! But, you have to do more than just buy the product, you must actually make an effort to clip/cut/tear/rip/saw the pink BoxTop from the package and send it in. What I am asking you to do is to clip the BoxTop but send it to me instead. I will then turn it into my niece and nephew's school, who will then turn it into BoxTops. Click here for a list of participating products.

Schools can use the money that they get from BoxTops as they see fit, whether it be basic school supplies, computers, a new playground, whatever! There was one school in Ohio that received over $50,000 from this program! Wow! Just think of all the good this program can do and that YOU can be a part of that goodness. I'm feelin' a warm fuzzy coming on...So, don't go the easy route and throw those BoxTops away, save 'em for me! Pretty, pretty please.... :)

When you accumulate some BoxTops, 5 or 500 :) {just be mindful of expiration dates}, contact me at leelucreations@yahoo.com and I will give you the address to send the BoxTops to.  Scavenger hunt is on folks!

Backyard Blahs....*Sigh*

For the longest time I've been wanting to do something different with my yard. I live in a townhouse but do have a small outside area all of my very own. It's a small space so the actual execution of the project shouldn't be too hard....right?...but I just don't know what I want to do with it....

My usually totally awesome boyfriend took it upon himself one day to put out grass seed...everywhere...even in my flower beds. There was already grass but it just didn't have that lush green look that he {he? ha!} envisioned. And one might be able to provide a good case that said flower beds were not actually flower beds, weed beds, perhaps? :) So now the yard is just a hot mess-and to top it all off I have to maintain the grass that he put down since he decided to move four hours south to another state. Anyway, I'm torn about whether to get rid of the grass altogether and just put down mulch or rocks or something, but then my girls wouldn't be able to just run outside and handle their business. I'm lazy so grass would be to my benefit, i think...but then I don't want to maintain it....and am clueless. I need ideas folks! Help!

Well, this is how I would luv my backyard to look! It's a pic from an alley between two shops that I snapped while in Beaufort. Isn't it just great? I have some serious garden envy. And the pottery is amazing. Where is that green thumb when I need one?

Tea and Cake or Death {Oh My!} Treasury

My tea pot and cup/saucer hair pins are in this treasury. Yeah! :)

Beach Vacation....Part 3 (Ft. Macon)

More from my vacation...Rob and I went exploring at Ft. Macon, a short drive north of Emerald Isle. It's an old Army fort built in 1826, located right on the beach and you can actually roam around it. They have recreated some of the scenes that you might've seen if you were to visit while the fort was active. Take your very own tour here. It was raining during our visit so some of the pics are a little wet!

I just love this pic. So candid. I think you can really see the brotherhood among these guys.

Confederate Money

Why do these mannequins weird me out a bit?

Thank goodness for Maytag! We sure have come a long way.....I so would not have lasted back in the day, lol.

On top of the fort. Those steps are super steep!

This cannon faces the ocean to fire at aproaching enemies.

To fire at enemies on the ground level....See the gray smudges? Is that from the rain or something spooky?.....

This was on someone's car as we were leaving...I so want one of these antenna toppers! Where do I find them?

Beach Vacation....Part 2

While I was in Beaufort earlier in the week (I made a scouting trip by myself to check things out before Rob arrived), I went to an old cemetary known as the The Old Burying Ground.  You can take your own virtual tour here! This is one of the oldest cemetaries in North Carolina.

I was the only person around so it was a little creepy, even though it was high noon. There are huge shade trees and all kinds of foliage to provide cover for whatever may be lurking about {wink}. They say that the azaleas are so pretty in the spring, but being that it was August, they were not in bloom. And then there is this plant, called a Resurrection Fern. I read that the cemetary is the only place in town where this type of fern grows. That's a little crazy....your mind could go lots of ways with that...Anyway, during a few days with no rain, the Resurrection Fern looks shriveled up and dead, but then it rains and is sunny, and it turns green and branches out, and is alive, muahahahaha. :) You'd never even know it was the same plant! Find a pic of it all branched out here (scroll through all the pics).

 Anyway, I'm strolling through the cemetary, snapping pics. Like most folks of this century I have a digital camera. When too much time passes between shots, the screen goes black. Normally I push a button to get the screen to come back on. But, when I get to this grave...

...the screen won't come on. My camera totally froze up and would not work! So, I slowly turned to look over my shoulder...just to make sure nothing was creepin' up on me...and it wasn't. Not that I could see anyway. I was able to turn the camera off and turn it back on and get it to work. But how crazy is that?!? So, what do you think...creepy coincidence or something supernatural? Click here to see other accounts of creepy happenings in Beaufort!

Not sure why people leave pennies on this grave...

This is the grave of the little girl buried in a rum barrel. She persuaded her mother to let her go to England with her father. He promised his wife that he would bring her back. He did....only in a rum barrel. Right before the trip home, she got sick and died aboard ship. People sometimes leave gifts for her spirit.

You can really see how old these graves are...

I believe this is on the graves of some of those that served in the military. There were several of these throughout the cemetary.

Awesome wrought-iron fence. Such detail.

 Stay tuned for more of my beach vacation!