What a great Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful day yesterday for Thanksgiving.  We made the trek Up North to spend the day with my side of the family.  Now we've been married 25 years and this is probably only about the 3rd or 4th time we've done that!  Usually we spend that day with Dale's side of the family.

It is about a 2 hour drive for us, with the last 10 miles of it the most beautiful.  It is a winding, curvy road through the woods that is just gorgeous.  Here are a couple of pictures I took on the way into the woods.  I know I have posted about this before, but this last 10 miles of road has approximately 75 curves to go around.  I feel like a race car driver every time I travel that road (well, ok, maybe not yesterday as it was too snowy).  Every time I try to count the curves, I end up losing track, but I think 75 is a pretty accurate number :)

We had the big traditional Thanksgiving Day dinner with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy with all the extras (and I mean ALL the extras, plus some!)  If anyone went away hungry, that was their own fault!  I think my favorite is my Mom's pumpkin pie.  Doesn't it look great?  Yes, she goes the extra mile every time she makes a pie and makes them look all 'pretty'!  Maybe Mom is where I get my putsy-ness from (is that even a word??)

It was great to see so many friends that I have not seen in a very long time.  This is the extended "family" from Up North that I practically grew up with.

Art and Sharon are a very special couple that I will never, ever forget.  They are the sweetest and kindest people you would ever want to meet!

I wish I had thought earlier and taken a picture of Den and Peg, but Den left before I even thought about it.  Darn it!  They were like my second set of parents growing up.  I did get a picture wtih their daughter, though!  Kris is a card (just like her Mom).  You will hurt from laughing when spending a day with her!  She has always got a story that will bust your guts!  She is even my downline in this Close To My Heart family!  Love ya, Kris!

Here are the kids (my 3 nieces and Kris' son and daughter).  they were all so good all day.  I think everyone had a great time!

I hope you all enjoyed the day with family and friends like we did!  We sure were counting our blessings!

Are you a Black Friday shopper?  I am not, I am staying nice and warm in my house today, but if you are a bargain shopper, read this post and feel free to give me a call or send an email to take advantage of this deal I have for you!  715-377-6195 or tammyhellstern@myctmh.com

Happy Scrappin'

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

While we have had our share of hardships, we have much to be thankful for!  Today is one of those days that we stop to count all our blessings!

Happy Scrappin'

Black Friday Sale and a Happy Birthday

Hi all you bargain shoppers out there!  Are you a Black Friday shopper?  I am not, but have I got a deal for you.  Keep reading for all the details.

When you call, email, or text me on Friday with your order, you will get an embellishment of your choice for FREE!  Yep, that's right, I'll pick up the tab on it.

What's even better is that you can combine this with the Little MORE Thanks offer that Corporate is offering.  If you have not read about that, here's the scoop.  When you place a $100 order through me, not only will you receive this Stamp of the Month, A Little Thanks, for FREE, but also any A-D size stamp set absolutely FREE!  It's our way of saying thank you to all you wonderful customers!  What's even better is that this is an awesome stamp set that I reach for all the time.  Couldn't we all use a thank you set?

I am even going to let you combine the Little MORE Thanks offer with my Black Friday offer.  How awesome is that?

I look forward to hearing from you on Friday (only until 9pm though, please).

I have to also wish my wonderful husband a very happy birthday today!  If you know him, wish him well today, I'm sure he would love it!

Happy Scrappin'

Metropolis Resort

What a fabulous weekend I have had!  Remember back in May when I won a big Mother's Day package from the radio station?  If not, you can read about it here.  I finally got around to using the other half of my winnings.  It included a night's stay at the Metropolis Resort, flowers, candy, and a massage.

I used the gift certificate for the greenhouse early this spring.  That was wonderful in itself!  It was for $200.  After wandering through the greenhouse and picking up everything I wanted, I got to the counter to check out and figured I was going to have to pay extra for all the stuff I got.  Guess what?  I only had to pay an extra quarter!  Yep, I hit that one pretty darn close.  I couldn't have come that close if I had been trying!

So now it was on to the Metropolis Resort.  This is a place like none other that we have ever stayed at!  It was very modern and contemporary-not the down home type place we are used to staying at.  I told my husband it reminded me of the Jetson's!  Even though it was so very different from anyplace else we've ever stayed, it was great!  Very, very nice!  I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

Here is what our room looked like.

The flowers and the candy were none too impressive, but that's ok, that is not the point.  They had a gift card for my massage waiting in my room for me when we got there, too-even printed out directions on how to get to the place doing the massage.  It was only a couple of miles away and easy to find.  She did a great job and I was sad when it was over.  I could have laid there all day!  I was so relaxed...

I also managed to get most of my Christmas shopping done over the weekend.  Bonus!

Speaking of shopping, don't forget about the November special, A Little MORE Thanks!  If you have forgotten, you can read all about it here in this post from November 10th.  If this intrigues you, you might just want to wait until Black Friday because I will be offering a great sale that day.  I will tell you all about it tomorrow!

Until then,
Happy Scrappin'

More Mistletoe Magic

Where does the time go?  Last Sunday was our Club day again and I still have not showed you what we created!  I swear the time goes by faster every day!  If only I could just stay home and 'work' in my craft room every day...ok, I will keep dreaming about that and until then, I will keep on doing what I have been!?!

This month we created a layout using the Mistletoe papers.

Then we added some Magic to our layout using Jeanette's How-To Book called "Magic".  She makes it so easy to add a WOWIE factor to your pages!  Simply pull up on the button and voila...

Ask me how to get your own copy of Magic.  Step by step instructions to Wowie made easy!

Happy Scrappin'

Hello snow...and a new toy!

This is what I woke up to this morning.

I am soooo not ready for this kind of weather yet!  I know, I live in Wisconsin and it is the middle of November, but really??  We had beautiful weather up until last night.  When I left work at 11:00 last night, it was just barely sprinkling when I walked out to my car.  About 5 miles down the road, it was raining pretty good.  Another 10-15 miles down the road, it was a blizzard.  It was hard to see the road while driving, but being a good Wisconsin girl, I managed just fine...now if all the other cars would just get out of my way!  LOL!

I am bummed about the snow, but excited because I get to play I mean LEARN how to work my new toy...I mean _____ no I don't, I mean TOY!  I got a new phone and am just loving it!  I never in a million years would have dreamed that I would be so into the latest and greatest gadgets, but I guess I am.  I am now "with the times" with my phone.  I even love the camera that it has on it-it actually takes great pictures (I will never give up my Rebel, but this is a great option for in my purse, as I always have my phone with me).

Anyone that knows me also knows that normally I am not willing to pay anything extra for my phone.  I have always just gotten whatever was available to me for a free upgrade.  I did splurge last time and spent an extra $10 on my phone and thought I was really something.  What got into me?  Well, let me tell you.  I just love this 'job on the side' that I do-it's called Close To My Heart.  My monthly commission check totally paid for the phone and the extras I got with it!  That is my reason for the splurge.  Just for me, just because!  Isn't that reason enough?  I thought so!

If you have a desire to make that kind of extra income (or even more) let me know.  I would be happy to have you join my team and start earning that income right away!

Happy Scrappin'

A Little Thanks and A Little MORE Thanks!

November is a great month to get your Stamp of the Month.  Better yet, place a $100 order and receive your stamp set FREE! (or click on the Stamp of the Month link at the top of my blog to see how to get it at other discount levels).  This is a great stamp set that every card maker should have (scrapbookers, too-but especially card makers!)  Doesn't everyone 'need' a great thank you stamp set?  I know I sure do!  Just look at all the great sayings you get with this set!

My friend Liz made these great layouts and cards using the November Stamp of the Month.  Aren't they just great?  She used the Olivia paper pack on all.  Thanks Liz!   December was the month that I had to create Stamp of the Month artwork for-just wait until next month when you see what I came up with!

Now for A Little MORE Thanks...during the month of November only, when you place a $100 order from me, not only will you receive the November Stamp of the Month for FREE, you will also receive one stamp set of your choosing from the 2010 Autumn/Winter Idea Book for FREE!!  This means you can increase the value of your purchase by up to $45.90 - that's almost 50% more in value!  It's just our way of imparting A Little MORE Thanks to you for being a great customer!  Ready to place your order?  Just give me a call, shoot me an email, or click on the link on the side of my blog to go right to my website to place your order.  It is so easy!

Happy Scrappin'

26 Years Ago Today...

26 years ago today (well, tonight actually) Dale proposed to me.  Yep, as you guessed, I accepted, and we were married about 7 months later.

Some days I can hardly believe it's been that long, and other days it seems as though it's been forever!  LOL!

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Happy Scrappin'

It is Secret Sister time again!

This was a very busy weekend for me.  Saturday was spent getting a tattoo.  Now don't think differently of me or pre-judge me because I have a tattoo, it is in honor of my children and I love it.  Here is a what I got.  I drew it up (and I can't draw well) and then brought it in to that a

There were a bunch of us girls that went together to get tats.  What a girl's day out that was!  I figured I would either be brave because I was with the girls, or I would cry my eyes out because I was with the girls.  I am proud to say that I was brave.  I think I had it in my head that it was going to be a lot worse than it was.  It was actually my second tattoo, but the other one is on my ankle and that didn't hurt at all.  This one on my lower back, I thought would be a lot worse, but it wasn't.  Of course, I think it helped that the kids were there with my in spirit sitting on my shoulder helping me out!

I got a dragonfly on my ankle a few years ago and now I am more thankful than ever that I did.  My daughter drew it and colored it and the tattoo artist copied her drawing and inked me.  Now I will forever have a piece of Rhonda's art with me.

I came home from that to a wonderful package awaiting me.  My Secret Sister had sent me a box full of goodies.  It started with a beautiful card for me and some great tasting cookies (I would love to have the recipe-hint, hint!)

Then there were these fabulous cards.  Just look at the detail in them and the matching envelopes, too!

Also, was a gorgeous kleenix box cover handcrafted out of the same Olivia paper pack.

Thank you Secret Sister!  I just loved my package and can't wait till the next one arrives!

I have made goodies for my Secret Sister, too, but I will have to wait to show you the pictures in case she is looking at my blog!  I promise, come January after our big reveal day, I will show you all the treats I have sent to her, too!

Sunday was a day spent shopping with my Mom, Sister, and nieces.  What a great day it was!  I look forward to this day every year.

Happy Scrappin'

Hooligan's Magic

Here is my Halloween layout with pictures from last night's trick or treaters.  You have seen the layout before, but now I have added the magic to it.  This is the layout that my club girls put together last Sunday, too.

You, too, can make magic layouts like this using our new How-to book called Magic.  Ask me how.

Happy Scrappin'