It was the night before Halloween...

It was the night before Halloween...

and all through the house

were activities of spookiness -

The last Halloween card of the season

(I think!) LOL!

"Ghouls just want to have fun!

This card has die-cut ghouls (upside-down owl punch), digi BATS colored w/copics, pastel background, oval punch, modern

label punch, Halloween paper, ribbon, brads and glitter (of course!).

This card project is entered in the Bugaboo Stamp Challenge this week. Here is the picture trigger (on the right) - the pretty lime, black and orange colors w/a ghost was my inspiration. Check out the entries here for this challenge

Had to use the freebie BAT digital image that I grabbed last week at Anita Be Stampin - this week's challenge is Halloween! Check out here for the spooky entires with digital designs.

Just Some Line Shop Challenge - this week's theme for their challenge is Halloween! Check the entries for this challenge here.

The House That Stamps Built - DCC1026 - Recipe Challenge! This is the first time for me to join this group. This challenge is to include: 1 image (Bats), 1 sentiment ("Ghouls Just Want To Have Fun"), 2 die cuts (Ghouls, oval and modern label) and 3 embellishments (ribbon, brads and glitter).

At Hooked On Craft 's - this week's Challenge #11 is the theme of - Halloween. Check here to see the entries for this challenge!

We were in the cooking mood this Halloween Eve - got the boys involved in helping! Halloween - 'tis the season for a "sugar high" - right? We've got it going tonight!

First on the menu of "Spooky Snacks" - are the Witches' Cakes! YUM! KV was the man for this job - Alex did take over the "sprinkles"! Finally found the extra-large frosting tips at Wal-Mart - had to try it out! Here's a great website & video here to help...

Next on the menu were "Goblin Eyes" - it took all of us - punching down the "eye balls" when the time was right and the chocolate was soft! Here's the recipe for these here.

But the BEST find tonight, were the

"BOO Suckers"

- this recipe was easy and we had fun making these - now they're all wrapped up to give out tomorrow night to the Trick-Treaters! Found this recipe here! We'll be making these again - easy and fun! Plus... very tasty!

Hope you had a great weekend! Today is "National Candy Corn Day" - enjoy some today! YUM! Thanks for stopping by - remember to hug the ones that you love the most, until next time...

July's "Sip & Swap" Cards

Here are the July cards that our

"Sip & Swap" club members made.

The theme was FALL and they needed a decorative envelope - We've added 2 more members, so next time we've got to make 10 cards - theme is Christmas! For more info - contact Childress' own Stampin' Up demonstrator - Stephanie Harbin!

Love this challenge by Gretchen Rubin

(author of the popular book "The Happiness Project") -

for the month of July - the challenge is "right up my alley" - it's to make something by hand... handmade cards make me happy... here's a small cut from her blog; also the monthly video is included - check out more on her blog here!

Make Something By Hand.

2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year -- and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge -- welcome! This month’s theme is Creativity, and last week’s resolution was to Take time for projects. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?

This week’s resolution is to Make something by hand.

Be inspired and "make something" -

it'll make you happier! I highly recommend this book!

Another book that is inspirational that I'm in the middle of is

"200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One:

Creating a Life of Meaning and Influence"

by Shawn Wood.

This book is making me think and try to find the big "G" within my life and it's purpose.

For an action - can't put down - OMG book - read this one by James Patterson -

"Now You See Her"

- WOW! Twist and turns and action... awesome!

KV just finished this book by Todd Burpo and his son, Colton -

"Heaven is for Real"

He enjoyed this one very much - makes you think! It's on my top 5 books to read before the summer is over!

Hope you are doing well. We're hanging in there - think this day makes day 69 in having 3 digit temps - it's been hot, hot, HOT.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...

Evidence that little touches do mean so much

Check this article out!

It's on how there is "Evidence that little touches do mean so much!" So hug the ones you love the most for 6 seconds TODAY! Send out a POSITIVE signal instead of negative! Have a great day!

(if you think I'm TOTALLY crazy; check out this post!)

Hug the ones you love... for at least 6 seconds!

In the Happiness Project - Week 8

So this week in the Happiness Project - we're suppose to hug, touch and kiss more... Watch the video from Gretchen herself (she's the author of the book!) I just love this idea... my normal closing of my blog post will NOW be "hug the ones you love the most... for at least 6 seconds" - hee hee! (I would only try this on family members and friends... the ones you love the MOST - and know you well enough to hold them 6 seconds long without suspecting something - LOL!) Try it and see if it makes you more happy this week!

Remember - "loving actions inspires loving feelings"!

Happiness...

One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.

One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself! Try it this weekend!

Focusing on the POSITIVE!

Hope you are off to a GREAT start for a successful week ahead! Since starting the "Happiness Project" - I'm trying to focus on the POSITIVE in my life! I have been BLESSED with so many things - FAMILY is #1 on the list.

As a teacher, working all day with kids... sometimes I lack patience and a giving nature, as a mother, in dealing with my sons after a long day at work. I tend to "drain" those traits before I get to spend time with my own family... and I want to make a resolution to change that! My 2 youngest sons are normal boys - doing what all boys do - fighting, mess-makers, not EVER brushing teeth or taking showers without an argument- and for putting the toilet seat down - NEVER...! (That's IF they use the inside for "ya know"... if you have a son - "ya know" - boys "piddle" anywhere outside - argh!)

Received a letter in the mail yesterday, that ALEX has met all the requirements to join the CJHS NJHS! YAHOO! That's the school's National Junior Honor Society - we are thrilled! He has really turned up the effort and has really done well grade-wise! Alex suffers with ADHD - but so far he can control this enough at school to be medicine-free - NOT an easy feat for anyone. KV has this also - and all the myths that "you outgrow it" does not apply at our house! We are proud of him!

Aric is practicing to be in a community play this February. He will be "Alfred" in a "Hank the Cowdog" play - they'll be putting on 2 dinner theatre performances and one matinee! He has really jumped in and grabbed ahold of the whole "drama" thing. We are surprised! Can't wait to see him perform! He is working with some very nice people from our community - should be lots of fun!

So, I am making a point to focus on the positive things that my boys are doing! I'll need reminding as I'm breaking up a fight or finding molded food underneath a bed... or whatever - the important thing is we are healthy and HAPPY! I'm trying...! Life is too short not to enjoy and savor every minute!

How are you? Hope you are well...

A couple of weeks ago - some farmers were talking at the stock show about the "Farmer's Almanac" and the prediction of "If snow stays on the ground for at least 21 days - than another blizzard is coming..." it was day #23 when they were talking and there were snow patches still on the ground here in the big C-Town. Today, in the panhandle of Texas... we are preparing for a snow storm coming tomorrow (Wednesday), Thursday and Friday! How wild is that? How accurate is the weather forecast from the Farmer's Almanac - I have no idea; so this will be interesting to see if it's true, huh! We're ready for a "late start" any morning for school - LOL! I'll buy some extra groceries tonight and plan on just staying in this weekend! Hope your day is going well! Thanks for stopping by! Hug the ones you love!

Happiness Project... start one today!

I'm a liar...

I even posted... that I would NOT make a New Year's resolution... UNTIL I found this HAPPINESS PROJECT! "What is that?" It's a book - and a website - but also a life style. It's something that I want, need, STRIVE for... "Happiness" - how to be happy ALL the time, no matter what happens! It's my resolution to become more happy and create a more happy environment for me and my family this year.

In my blog, on the far left-hand side - I've added the Happiness Project logo and this month and week's challenge. Try it! I'm aiming for a better attitude and positive results. I believe that one of my gifts from the Lord is encouragment - but how can I encourage and give support if I have a bad attitude or a negative outlook? So I'm trying to improve!
So there it is, my "written" declaration of becoming more involve in my happiness - creating a happy environment to all who comes close. Bare with me - or better yet - join me! I'm trying to be "happy" - LOL! BIG smile

This week's challenge is to TOSS & ORGANIZE. It's a proven fact that we ALL feel better when everything is clean - start small so things aren't so overwhelming. I know that is one of my biggest faults - "stopping before I get started" because of the size of the "mess"! I'm learning to start small and working in piles or areas! Here's a link for "27 Important Rules for Keeping Your House in Order" that I found very helpful. I've got to have a semi-organized house to function in a calm fashion. "No stress"... okay, maybe some - but I've learned that having a clean area to work in makes me happier... I thought I was weird - but now I'm finding that most of us are effected by this! Wow!

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT week! Hug the ones you love!