LOOK what I got!

As part of the AWESOME F-R-E-E with a Catch meme , I received this gorgeous felt art piece made for me by one of my best friends, Stephanie! Isn't it the most beautiful ever?!?! It really warmed my heart...I can't wait to frame and display it :)

I'll tell you, when I first read about the F-R-E-E with a Catch post on her blog, I thought 'Sign me UP!'....what? The catch? I have to pay it forward? I have no problem with paying things forward....but....I can't make anything!....Steph talked me down and explained that it could really be anything. It's really just a token...ohhhh, as long as peeps don't expect some lavish handmade Etsyesque gift :)

Stephanie made this for ME, and it feels just like Me...and where I am, what I'm focusing on...I love how much she knows and loves me....now, what will I make for HER?

*as for the 5 peeps that responded to my F-R-E-E Gift with a Catch post....I've set a reminder for myself. You'll receive something special that I've made for you...some time this year ;)

F-R-E-E...with a catch

To the first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

Lucky you!

My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

• I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
• What I create will be just for you.
• It'll be done this year.
• You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a mask. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
• I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. Yes, YOU become included in this giving circle!

Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

(I'll be contacting the first 5 via email...so make sure you have an email link on your blog/profile or contact me via my email link on my profile with your email address....I'll be needing your mailing address!) :)

The Kaleidoscope Kit

Thanks to Michael, Leah Ann, Allie & Liam for such a super fab birthday gift!

For more Wordless Wednesday shots, go HERE & HERE

Bread 'n Honey

My super fab in-laws gave us a super duper bread machine for Christmas. The only problem was that when I went to bake some bread last week, the paddle (needed to knead) was missing. My sweet husband is the one who took the machine and components out of the box and set it up...in his words 'I never saw a paddle', so I just went from there and called the company who happily shipped out a paddle that same day....regular mail. Wait? Wait for fresh baked bread that I was sooo in the mood for right then?!?! What's a paddless gal to do? I waited. Till yesterday...*trumpets blaring* the paddle came in! I immediately opened the instruction manual...it's quite thick and intimidating...and followed the directions to make fresh honey wheat bread (got the mix in the box thang...it's about ease and instant gratification for me). A couple of hours later....right around dinner time, viola! Bread! I baked...my machine...baked BREAD! and it was gooooood. I barely waited the allotted cool down time and then sliced away. I cut my first slice in half. First half was slathered in butter. The second half was slathered in butter and topped off with honey...for dessert. YUMMMMM! Thanks Dee and Tom for a FABULOUS gift that will make sure a fresh carby loaf of bread isn't too far away :)

Mia's first day as a photographer

I'm not sure why, but I can't wait til the actual proper date to let someone open a gift from me. It's not that I want to open one so bad, b/c it happens on other people's birthdays, too. So, yesterday (Dec 20th) Mia opened one of her Christmas gifts. A new kids digital camera. She LOVES it and it soooo easy for her to use. Here are a few of her shots in a collage, then some of my faves a little larger. Now the camera's turned!

I'm not sure if Mia took this one or if Auntie M got ahold of the camera and graced Mia's camera with a self-portrait :)

Daryl's First Christmas Gift of the Season

For his birthday, Daryl got a RC airplane and his dad got the engine and all the innards needed for actual flight. Well, they flew it on Thanksgiving, and if you can remember from the post, it only lasted about 6 seconds. I heard flying a higher end RC helicopter may actually help learn how to work the controls and stuff....soooooo I may have won wife of the year with this gift. He opened it on Sunday night after Mia went to bed....I couldn't help it. I'd bought it Saturday. So, I did wait an actual 24 hrs :)

I LOVE how happy he looks in these pictures. He actually RTFM'd! He flew it around...Niles was mildly concerned, but Daryl was having the time of his life! Then he let me have a try. It was fun, but I felt out of control and insane. There's a LOT to think about while flying. All was good until I managed to make it fly toward ME! That just freaked me out! I dropped the control box and fell to the floor!