Aspire to everything Inspired

The view from over here, No. 21

I'm in love with this idea of creating hand-stamped book inscriptions...

gift books for Christmas?  Check

New in The Shoppe!

Run, friends, don't walk...    holiday goodies, now available in The Shoppe!

The view from over here, No. 20

Woke up Saturday to our first major snowfall... and so I spent the morning doing a little holiday gift-wrapping.  So much fun!  (seriously!)

So what did you do this weekend, friends?

The view from over here, No. 09

 
My oldest niece and her husband have birthdays that are just 1 week apart -- her's at the end of one month and his at the beginning of the next.  Admittedly, it's easy to shop for her, but a little more difficult to know what to get for him.  They've recently started a family, so... this recent post by Design Mom inspired a great idea!

I'll select one of my favorite children's authors and pick a different picture book for each of them.  I'm simply tickled with the idea!  Not only is it a great library starter for a young family, but its fun to revisit my favorite childhood stories and come up with the inscriptions for each book too!  :)

author Bill Peet for Birthdays 2011...  Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent and Ella

I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas...  possibly Anatole books by Eve Titus...  

Were you up before the crack of dawn?

Me too.

I'm sure I thought about calling you to exchange thoughts too, but then again... what if you weren't up?  So I just made hot cocoa and went back to the telly...

Paul Ellis / AFP - Getty Images

LOVED the dress.  And the Pageantry.  And the Music.  And the whole wedding service.  Was it just me, or did you also find it quite lovely that it was in fact a religious service?   The hymn that the Bride walked down the aisle to, "O Jerusalem", was simply gorgeous and such a lovely departure from the traditional "Wedding March" by Mendelssohn.  The Westminster Abbey Choir...  the Trumpets...  the beautiful maple trees in the Abbey...    It was stunning and lovely and a feast for the senses.

Loved watching the crowds outside Buckingham Palace.  If you'd been in England (Oooo... perhaps you're there!), would you have been there, or home watching on the telly?  Tough decision!  And don't you now wish that you had a fabulous tea towel or tea set as a souvenir?

Me too.

This just in! Curious things in the post

My brother just emailed a rawther curious photo...  

 
 

Um, I might have had something to do with it.  Maybe.  But I'm not admitting to anything... yet.

Sending you Sweet Valentine wishes, dear friends

 
 
 

And of course, the best Valentines come stuffed with a sweet treat... how about super delish bubble gum from Italy?

Only for you, of course, because you're simply the best, Valentine!

Resolutions 2011... because everybody is doing it, so shouldn't we?

Do you know what this blog has been missing lately?

(Well, besides posts, I mean)

Sass.  Yes, my friends, there's been a distinct lack of Sass.  And Whimsy.  Maybe even {gasp!} Humor around here lately.

What there has been...  Determination.  Practicality.  Snark.  Lots of snark.

Between you and me, I think there's a real difference between Sass and Snark.  But we'll save that discussion for another day, because I don't have any Resolutions about Snarkiness.

So -

Resolutions for 2011...

{big drum roll here}  {maybe an amazing guitar riff too} {while we're at it, let's just bring out U2}  {and snacks!} {Now that's a bit of sass, don't you think?}

• Resolved...  be more lighthearted, find the fun, bring back the Sass.
• Resolved...  Focus on what matters Most
• Resolved...  Clean up the mess in this room.  It still looks like my suitcases exploded all over the sofa
• Resolved...  Blog more often  (after all, you're here aren't you?)
• Resolved...  Work less  (a reflection on the 18-hour days I've been spending at the office lately)
• Resolved...  Do more to serve and think about others
• Resolved...  Take these ideas and come up with concrete goals for the next 3 months
• Resolved...  (Except for that one about Cleaning up the Mess.  THAT really ought to be done this weekend.)

Just in case you decide stop by.

You should bring cookies.  Because there aren't any here.  But I've got plenty of cocoa... for now.

 

• Resolved... Make sure we don't run out of hot chocolate.
• Resolved... Find out what's up with YOU.

So...  That's what's on my list.  What are your New Year's Resolutions?  Do tell - I'm simply perishing of curiousity...

Attention December! I’m through with you

Robert Burns had it right when he wrote “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

December is supposed to be a great month.  A month of holidays and celebration.  Good friends, good eats, good times.  I was looking forward to my annual tropical vacation!  And normal hours at work.  And weekends and after-hours fun with family and friends.  Holiday traditions would be followed.  New traditions would be started.  It was going to be an awesome holiday season!

Really, not so much.

A weekend getaway to start the month was great… until a canceled return flight threw everything awry.  My annual tropical vacation was canceled for a 10-day business trip instead… that resulted in 19-hour work days. Every. Day.  And somehow, I found myself at 11:00 am on December 23rd.  Depressed. Exhausted.  Behind schedule.

All I wanted for Christmas?

A hug.  A few words of kindness.  A nap.

A really long nap.

There’s no magical end to this tale.  I made it through the holiday weekend with a little help -- and a lot of faith. :-)  Which is to say that sometimes you just have to put on your coat and go out the front door.  Lose yourself in spending time with others.  24-hours hanging out with my two favorite houseguests helped – even if we still didn’t get much sleep.   Christmas Eve dinner at my house was deferred until another day, and we all heaved a sigh of relief to have a few extra hours back for our other preparations.  Christmas presents were wrapped on Christmas morning, which worked out just fine.  They were gleefully shared on Christmas evening after family dinner.  And Boxing Day included morning Church, afternoon reading a book, and an early bedtime.  

Sometimes, we just get by with what we can do.

Christmas morning, I went to visit a close family member recovering from major surgery in the hospital ICU.  Only to discover he had been discharged the night before.  Well enough to go home?  That’s something to be grateful for.  And reminds me that I have so much more to be grateful for too…

A job, when this time last year I was losing one.  A home, when in the Spring I wasn’t sure what the options would be.  Good health, when family are battling cancer and friends are suffering the flu and other winter ailments.  More friends and family, who sent cheer and love in holiday cards and photos.  Good times past… and many schemes for new grand adventures in the future.  And maybe a few good holiday eats courtesy of a few good cooks.  :-)

When you stop to count your blessings, December may not have been such a bad month after all.  There's so much in life to be grateful for each and every day.

But I’m still glad this month is almost over.

Welcome January!

Countdown to Christmas

Is it official yet?  Can we begin counting the days??  Pleeeeasse?

 
 
 
 

Mini envelopes.  Pretty inks and borrowed snowflakes.  Shiny red ribbon.  Homemade advent calendars decorated, stuffed, strung, and ready to begin counting...  Tomorrow!

I made two.  Too bad I mailed them both.  How will I ever keep track of the countdown myself??