SHOW
I had a horrible time getting a decent picture of this card, but... oh, my. Can I tell you how much I love my Cricut Expression and how excited I am to use it more?! I bought it with my as-yet-unreceived-but-anticipated Christmas money on Black Friday. It sat in my craft room in the box, intimidating me, until the day before Christmas. I unpacked it and set it on the counter where it sat mocking me until a couple of days ago. I don't know why I was so scared of it — it's very easy figure out and fun to use.
AND TELL: stamps are from Papertrey Ink (Background Basics: Retro, Damask Designs); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss, Vintage Cream), Stampin' Up (Basic Black), and Creative Memories (metallic gold); ink is Papertrey Ink (Sweet Blush, Spring Moss); also used Cricut cartridges (Joys of the Season - star border, Paper Pups - happy dog, Winter Wonderland - numbers).
So, what did you do last night? Last year we started a tradition with some good friends of ours who we just don't see often enough — despite the fact that they live just down the street. Being as we're not as young as we used to be, we go out to dinner and then come back to the house, visit awhile, make a toast and everyone is home and tucked into bed before midnight. Exciting, huh? (I guess we shouldn't really call it a tradition since we'd only done it once before last night, but since we plan on repeating it year after year we'll go with tradition...) What it may lack in excitment, it more than makes up for in the area of comfortably reconnecting with good friends.
Last night before dinner, though, we were invited to another friend's house for appetizers and celebration with her soon-to-be-married daughter and other friends and family. The "happy 2010" card went with us and ended up decorating the drink area.
And, today we were invited to a neighborhood party at lunchtime. Some traditional "good luck" foods were on the menu. When I received the invitation via e-mail, I had just read this post on The Pioneer Woman's blog. So, of course, I had to make the Cheddar Puffs to take along. Yep, they're yummy. She says to use crusty french bread and I will echo that. My grocery store must've had a run on the real crusty bread — could there be that many PW readers in my neighborhood? — and what I used was, I think, a little too soft to make the puffs as great as they could've been. But, really, how can you go wrong with a recipe that includes butter, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and garlic?
So — we've had a busy couple of days. I'm not quite used to so many social activities and, while it's been fun, I feel as though I haven't had the time I need to just reflect on the past year and think ahead to the next. My biggest surprise of 2009 was the impact that keeping a blog has had. I've "met" so many fun, new, and like-minded people. I love looking at other people's blogs, seeing what they're doing, hearing what they have to say — but, for some reason, it's hard for me to believe that anyone (especially people who don't "know" me) would be interested in what I'm doing, making, and talking/thinking about. So, thank you to all of you who visit here regularly — or even just once in awhile. Thanks for leaving me such encouraging comments. I had no idea what a big impact you would have on me and I'm grateful to each one of you. Sending you happy 2010 hugs! Hope to see you again soon. Have a great day!