Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas.... And a Few Life in December Photos

Oh my!! Hello friends..

How are you doing?

Well I hope.. 

Christmas day is almost upon us.

Can you believe it?

My mind is swirling with so many thoughts as I'm resting a bit.

 Hanging onto all of the beauty and wonder of the lights,

the gatherings and special events.

Today, my daughter and I went bear hunting at the grocery store.

                  And we caught one and then we took it hostage and stuffed it into

the back of my husband's car!

HAHA... just plain fun.

AND...

our trip, of course.

Which was absolutely

perfect and amazing!

We had tickets to the Ballet Arizona

production of the Nutcracker.

It was spectacular beyond words.

And for our youngest daughter's

late 20th birthday present,

we went to see the 

For King and Country

Christmas Tour concert featuring Lauren Daigle.

I love to go on "holiday"in the winter. 

There's just something so exciting and special about it.

I will save that for another post.

I'm still gathering pictures from the phones and cameras.

There have been some really exciting times but much of the time I have 

 been enjoying everyday things. 

It was quieter and more simple for me. 

And it has been a Christmas to remember.

These past couple of weeks, we've played music with our friends to 

raise money for gifts for local children.

We were able to bring in $500.00 and we had s much fun doing it!

I enjoy such a mix of Christmas music.

Traditional O Holy Night ( one of my favorites ) by Nat King Cole to the

pumped up version of 

The Little Drummer Boy by 

For King and Country.

You can watch it here

Do you have a favorite Christmas carol or song?

I just want to share a few pictures of what I've been

busy at. I have enjoyed seeing others homes

and projects and hearing about their

families and friends. So I thought I'd share a bit also. 

Part of my Christmas village... it's a work in progress!

And I always enjoy making some cards to send some handmade love

to friends and family! 

 A little thrifting and a smoothie outing with my daughter

is always in order! 

I have found some beautiful

things this year. 

My middle daughter, Hannah, says that I'm a 

treasure magnet. 

Haha. 

(Maybe I just spend a lot of time in thrift stores ;)

Just today, I found the most adorable

little music box for my granddaughters.  The cutest

group of snowmen with halos and the music box 

played Joy to the World. 

It was perfect! 

I secretly wanted to keep it but I wanted them 

to have it more. They will love it!

Part of my HUGE pile of CHEX MIX that 

was atop my kitchen counter cooling!

 My Christmas wreath that I made.

 The December craft show.

 The following pictures are all of angel wing ornaments that I made.

This little tree has since been decorated with gleaming

silver, glass pinecones and a string of shiny silver beads.

The giggles had fun making it pretty!

And I am still decorating.. Shhhh!

Am I the only one?

Well tomorrow is Christmas eve.

And all is well.

What we've done is enough.

I am purposely practicing the

discipline of NOT doing that one more thing!

It has helped me to release that

temptation to make things perfect.

Well done ladies!

The baking and shopping and wrapping.

All that giving and doing. 

We might have a white christmas so in lieu of that,

 here's the classic and classy Bing Crosby

 singing one of our favorite songs of the season!

And here's a clip from Meet Me in St Louis with Judy Garland

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. 

So warm wishes to you and I hope that you do!

Enjoying family and friends..cozy fires, good food,

playing games, opening gifts... feeling the love that came down

and that is all around.

And always, always counting our blessings.

Thank you so much for coming by.

I always hope that you find a bit of peace,

happiness and inspiration here.

Love and hugs,

Tamara

Christmas Sparkle....

Hello... 

I hope this finds you happy and at peace.

Right now, my focus is contentment and 

the "that's enough" philosophy.

I am so grateful for the season and all that it means.

There's so much light that surrounds.

Not only from the twinkles and icicles but from 

the beauty in the hearts that share so much.

My idea of Christmas, whether old -fashioned or modern, 

is very simple: loving others.

Bob Hope

I was inspired a while ago by some white poms that

I bought at the grocery store the other week.

They were beautifully glittered. 

So I had to try it with gold, glitter spray

 Glittered Hydrangeas share their beauty.

 Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.

Hamilton Wright Mabie

I will be going on a holiday trip this weekend.

I can't say much because it might spoil the surprise!

 But I will share when I return.

Wishing you all a very lovely week filled 

with all the joys and goodness that the season can bestow!

Thank you so much for your visit~

Love and blessings, 

Tamara

A Pie Pumpkin..All Glittered Up and Some Thoughts About Life

It's a very blustery day here in the Arizona mountains.

And tonight we're supposed to have temps in the teens.

I hope to get outside to day, brave the wind, dodging the 50 mph gusts and gather the rest of my flowers for some creative and fun way to enjoy them for a little while longer.

I cannot believe that I still have roses, 

cosmos, petunias and snapdragons.

What a beautiful fall it's been but I find myself standing 

by the wood stove quite a bit these days.

There's a very simple project that I'd like to share with you today.

I made a bunch of them while I was in Ohio and gave them as gifts.

And I brought several home to make more.

The materials needed are:

 *pie pumpkins

*acrylic paint.. your choice of color

(I used Vintage White)

*glitter (I used gold)

*ribbon, tulle 

*a button or some kind of embellishment

*hot glue gun

I put a coat of paint and let it dry.

Then painted the top half of the pumpkin

again and sprinkled it with LOTS of gold glitter :)

Oh my! 

At the Sugartree cabin in Ohio, I had glitter 

ALLLL over the place. It was so fun.

(Glitter and I mix like milk and cookies!)

After this dries, you make a bow or two out

of your ribbon. Then attach them and your 

embellishment with hot glue.

SO simple and pretty quick too. 

The drying time takes a bit.

I have given several as gifts. 

They would be perfect as a hostess

gift or for just someone special. I took one to the owner

of the nursery where I bought the pumpkins and

she asked if it had been for a fall wedding decoration.

 With Thanksgiving coming, there are endless ways

that one could use them for decorating.

They are very inexpensive to make and so fun and festive.

I took this one to my brother at the nursing home.

Just a small way to share a little love.

And we need lots of that don't we?

That's one thing that always makes a difference

in a person's life. Spread a little cheer and happiness

with a simple gift. Just let someone know that they

were thought of and loved.

Here's a lovely song for you today.

It's a moving version of 

What the World Needs Now.

ent

Yesterday, I made some special memories making

hot-cocoa mix with my granddaughters. 

And we also went about the yard

picking all the flowers that were still blooming!

They had little baskets to fill for their mommy.

They were so excited! 

Oh, the precious love of little girls for their mommy. 

Sweet sweet sweet!

I will share pictures later. 

It's time for some Christmas music! And

we've been working on some songs for 

sing-alongs and special events. 

There are so many special ones. 

Traditional, country, folk and it goes on.

I will share some of my favorites with you.

We had two birthday celebrations this week for my

husband's 60th birthday and there are more to come.

When I think of how much the average person

has to overcome in this life, by golly, it's good celebrate

 them and life at every opportunity!  

As we approach Thanksgiving, there are

a few things that I'm particularly thankful for today.

*A good dermatologist report.

I'm at high risk because of my years of over-exposure.

I have learned some very valuable things about protection.

If you are interested in knowing, I will share.

I will say that skin checks make a difference!

*My husband being here.

The two year anniversary of his roll-over accident

is almost here. His pick-up was totaled. 

He was treated and released.

(I lost my first husband in a roll-over accident 

when I was 24)

 *Protection from a black widow spider.

Yesterday, before the girlies arrived, I was

prompted to straighten a little pile of pillows where

they often play. There I found a very large widow spider.
A spider.. ewww  Happy thought indeed.

To quote Lizzy in Pride and Prejudice  

What are you thankful for?

What have you been doing?

Are you ready for the holidays?

I hope that life is treating you kind and that your days

are rich with love and the beauty of life.

Merci Merci 

And many blessings to you,

Tamara xo

Sweet Girl Rosette, Birthday Banner

The making of a birthday banner to

delight a little girl's heart.

acrylic paint

glitter

 card stock rosettes of various sizes

crepe paper streamers

rubber stamps

vintage jewelry

cabochons 

trims and ribbons

torn strips of fabric

strings of beads

cut out stars

1 1/2" mini clothes pins

 A pile of sparkles....

 Glitter on paint...

 Playing with paint and glitter...

 Using stamps in acrylic paint

Once Upon a Time...

there lived a little princess ~

"You are sweeter than sugar and more

precious than any pearl!"

She loved...

Pinks   blues   creams   whites

and 

ALL

things

SPARKLY... 

For the Beautiful, Birthday Princess~

My you feel priceless and cherished!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Wishing you all a day filled with dreams come true.

Thank you so much for coming by.

Tamara xo

Linking up

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