A year is a gift of Time.....

all brand new, and this year is waiting especially for YOU!

These are a few of my favorite people

This week has been flurried with fun family activities. 

My niece was home for Christmas for a few days so everyone

 who was available got together for lunch and a lively game of bowling.

Grandson number 3 took his first trolley ride,

 and made a visit to the public museum. 

Attended children's theater and watched,

Junie B. Jones Jingle Bells Batman Smells

Grandson number 1 was spending some 

time with his other Grandparents. 

We sure did miss you!♥

FutureMe.org helps your remember your New Year's resolution and goals.

A new year is just around the corner, the old year with all the mistakes, and poor choices that were made are gone. On January 1st, we all start with a clean slate. 

I don't make resolutions, but rather try to establish some realistic goals for myself. Some of my goals for 2012 is to learn how to become a better blogger, and try to redesign my blog page.

While reading an online magazine,  I came across an article about a website FutureMe.org that allows  you  to write a letter to the future with your goals or resolutions, schedule a date when you would like to receive the letter via email, and see how you are doing or did with the goals or resolutions. 

Write yourself a letter with your goals, thoughts about the future, or a few resolutions using FutureMe.org. It's very easy; email address where the letter will be sent, the subject line is filled in with the day's date, type yourself a message, and choose a date that you want your letter sent.  It's that easy.

Linking with:
 Alphabe-Thursday

Some time, by doing a little thing you can cause significant changes.

This link was emailed to me by a friend and I enjoyed it and wanted to share it with you.

After clicking on the link below, slowly move your mouse anywhere around the drab image and watch the transformation.

http://www.elion.ee/docs/joulukaart/eng/

Thrift Share

After Christmas sales are everywhere including my favorite thrift shop, GW Boutique (Goodwill) look at the deals I found.

All Christmas items were 75% off.  The week prior to 

Christmas, all receipts from the GW had a 15% off coupon good 

from 12.26.11 - 1.3.12, and of course I made use of the coupon.

Never used in the original box was this Francesco Rubinato

Wax Seal kit. Priced at $4.99 the kit was considered a Christmas 

item, after discounts I paid $1.06.

The snowflake tablecloth, brand new from Target was also priced

$4.99 before all the discounts so for $1.06 I have a new tablecloth

for next years celebrations. The wooden tray is embossed on the back by

the makers David & Carey International and was priced at $2.99, I paid 72¢. 

I smiled as I walked out the door with my beautiful thrift store items knowing I purchased some quality pieces at incredible prices. 

What did you find this week while thrift shopping? I can't wait to see!

I am linking up with:

Cap Creations for :

Thrifty Goodness

and

Apron Thrift Girl for:

The Miraculous Gift

Images of Vintage Christmas Postcards

Whimsical vintage Christmas postcards. 

 

Hot Cocoa with Dennis Dean

Have you ever read a recipe and known immediately that you would make it. It happened to me while I was viewing the lovely items that are available from Ballard Designs. I am the click a lot queen when I'm on a website, I will click each and every link to make sure I visit every part of the website. During my visit to the  Ballard Designs website I clicked my way to a recipe titled;  The Best Holiday Hot Chocolate from Dennis Dean.  

 This recipe is from the Ballard Designs website.

The Best Holiday Hot Chocolate 

When it is cold outside, the thought of a great cup of Hot Chocolate is about as good as it gets. So here is a simple recipe to make a rich and special hot chocolate that you can make in the microwave and impress your family and friends.

Recipe

1 (14oz.) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 1/2 cups hot water

Marshmallow Topping*

Combine all ingredients except marshmallows in a 2 quart glass container. Microwave on high 8-10 minutes. Stirring every 3 minutes. Top with marshmallows.

Dennis Dean's Tip

 *To make the marshmallow swirl on the top, place marshmallows in a HEAVY DUTY FREEZER BAG. Cut one of the corners of the bag off at an angle, and microwave for about 15 to 30 seconds. Check every 10 seconds until marshmallows are melted, rome from the microwave carefully, the mixture is VERY HOT. Squeeze the bag to form a swirl on top of the cocoa. If you have a torch, you can crisp the top of the marshmallow swirl.

Dennis Dean has a short You Tube video of the finished product that you might enjoy.

I have already made one batch of Dennis Dean's hot chocolate, and I was not disappointed. I even swirled the microwaved marshmallows on top. This is an easy, fast, and tasty recipe that I will make on Christmas Eve for all of my Christmas angels.

I'm wired to shop!

As is my morning routine, I sit down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee to read the morning newspaper.

This morning I unwrapped the paper scanned the headlines and unfolded the paper to learn what news was below the fold. And what to my wondrous eyes did I see...

That's right scientists did a study and wrote this article: Brain strain: Scientist say we are wired to shop, you can read the article by clicking here. 

After I finished reading the news and drinking my coffee, my morning routine takes me to my computer, so I can read my emails, checkout Facebook, and do a quick check of my favorite blogs. Emails barked out fabulous sales with a high percentage off with free delivery before Christmas, I deleted 46 messages like that.

Facebook brought me the news that St. Vincent DePaul's Christmas items are half price today:)) I did need to make a run down to the post office and St. Vinny's is near the post office, so off I went. 

I entered the thrift store and immediately went to the Christmas section, everything on the shelves is a jumbled mess, but I did notice a box that looked intriguing to me.

I took a peek inside and found

these interesting items

A snowman family!

 That become sidewalk art, Mama.

 Baby snowman.

 Daddy snowman.

Put them all together and you have snowmen art for your cement.

You turn the snowman tin upside down place the chalk dust inside the tray tap on the cement, and you have made an outline of a snowman. I needed to do this quickly because of the rain.

This fun activity cost me $1.49. I can't wait to do this with my grandchildren!  I just can't help myself; I love a good thrift store 50% off sale, and according to scientists I'm wired to shop!

Our heirloom Christmas treasure

Last week I stopped by to visit my sweet sister, and I noticed that she had started to put up our heirloom Christmas treasure, the nativity set from when we were children. We started to calculate how old the nativity set was, which lead me to the photo album.

The back of the photo has the year as 1953.

I can't believe they let me play with the nativity set!

This photo was dated 1961.

Look at the pattern on the drapes. Yikes!

This photo was taken December 2011.

My sister wasn't happy I took the picture before 

she finished her set-up, but if I had waited any longer I 

would have been roped into helping her to finish the display.

We can document with photos that 

our family owned the nativity in 1953.

My sister remembers it being in our home when she was ten or eleven.  

So we estimate the age to be around 63 years old.

Does your family have an heirloom Christmas treasure? If you have blogged about your treasure leave me your URL in the comments section, I would love to read and see photos of your treasures.

Thrift Share

It's got to be something genetic, that's what I think, because every time I see my favorite store, GW Boutique, my heart beats just a little faster and my mind conjures up all sorts of images of items that may be sitting on the shelves waiting for me.

So after running some errands, I'm driving by the Boutique and remember an email that was sent from GW reminding me about the scratch off discount on Thursday. So I snapped on the turn signal and found a spot to park.

I wander around and around until I spot on the bottom shelf an unopened box. I love unopened boxes, and I was pleasantly surprised to find these happy little guys inside.

How can you not smile at these characters?

These characters decorate tall frosted glasses.

These cuties came home with me and were

priced at $3.99. However, it was scratch off

the ticket for an additional discount. Another

15% off, my grandchildren will love drinking

from these whimsical glasses.

What did you find this week while thrift shopping? I can't wait to see!

I am linking up with, Her Library Adventures on Sunday, for:

Cap Creations for :

Thrifty Goodness

  Hey What's For Dinner Mom? for:

Me and My Shadow for:

Magpie Monday

and with Apron Thrift Girl for:

Surprise Mail with a Squeal

Hey you, in California, Alaska, Utah, Virginia, or New York, did you hear it? Hear what you ask, my squeal of delight this evening when I went to fetch my mail out of the box, of course.

I love getting the mail as I have stated before because everyday a new surprise awaits me, and with Christmas cards arriving daily, my box is full of envelopes, and I LOVE it! 

Today's mail had several cards, a Red Plum coupon magazine, and a manila envelope. I took a peek at the return label, and I saw Tammy and Virginia, nothing registered. I couldn't pull into the garage and get my behind in the house fast enough, the curiosity was killing me.

The surprise envelope.

An envelope inside the envelope, the excitement builds.

Written on the envelope is a note that says:

Paulette

When I saw this, I thought of you. 

Supposed to be vintage, but who knows.

I picked one up for myself, as well.

Merry Christmas!

Tammy

Cute card and it had a clue who it was from right 

on the front, of the card, which I totally missed. 

It's from, Tammy who writes 

the blog Tammy Loves Dishes.

Inside the envelope was a pristine vintage

cardboard stand up, remarkably handsome Santa!

On the back, of Santa was an advertisement
to join the Christmas Club. I use to save for
Christmas using a Christmas Club many,
 many years ago. I remember the excitement
when the $25.00 check arrived.

Tammy, this was the best surprise, thank you very much, I love the Santa and will display him next to my table top tree with the vintage Shinny Brite ornaments.

The hint on the front of the Christmas card was the Scottie dog, Tammy claims that the Scotties run her household. Stop over and check out Tammy Loves Dishes, and see her beautiful tablescapes that she designs using thrift store purchases. 

Christmas is all about fellowship, giving, sharing, family, and friendships. When I started writing my blog in May, I never dreamed that I would make connections with so many incredible people. 

Thank you again Tammy I am still squealing with joy!

Annual Christmas ornament exchange

Twelve friends got together for a Christmas ornament exchange ten years ago, and the tradition continues to this day. The number has dwindled, some have moved, and some have moved on, but on Saturday seven of the original twelve got together for brunch and the annual exchange. Three of our friends were unable to make this festive brunch because of illness, but I know they were there in spirit.

When we arrived the punch was waiting for us in a beautiful thrift shop punch bowl that came with matching glasses.

Purchased at a thrift store a month ago, this stunning cut 

glass punch bowl came with twelve matching glasses.

For brunch we had...

French toast bake

I loved all of the nuts on top.

Egg bake with cubed ham.

These potato's had a hint of garlic that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

I later found out she used a pound of making these, of course they were good!

Everything was delightfully delicious.

Everyone contributed something for the brunch.

All the packages were so nicely wrapped.

My package is the white with red polka dots.

These are the ornaments that were exchanged, 

it was a big year for Santa ornaments.

I gave the two silver ornaments top right.

Not a very good photo of them, but the were cute.

This is the ornament that I received.

Another exchange party and another wonderful Christmas memory for me.