Freckled Star

It's time..........

Well it's that time again ladies!!

The first of the year is upon us.........

Again........

I know hard to believe isn't it!!??

So if you have been reading for a while you may know that last year I started it off by clearing the clutter, having a food diary, making healthier choices and walking regularly. You can go back and read those posts if you like they'd be January and February 2011 posts. I think I will:) A little refresher course to help me thru this transition!!

Well let's talk about progress...........

The first month was HARD!! I cut out everything from dairy to flour. No juice, no soda just good ol' water and it sucked to be sure! But the whole fruit smoothies were a Godsend!! I kept my food diary all month, did weigh-ins at the Club every Wednesday and it was very helpful to help me make conscious choices plus hold me accountable. Also I wore that damn pedometer everyday! I lost 4 pounds.

February was moving right along. Just kept right with January. Only I added some dairy and chicken. Also I let myself have Dove's Dark Chocolate squares as a treat:) Lost an additional 4 pounds.

March it was pretty much habit and I can say I lost the craving for soda all together. I still wanted Reese's Peanut Butter Cups though, sugar can be an evil mistress!! No more food diary, but still kept the pedometer. Lost additional 3 pounds.

All together 11 pounds on my 5'4" frame. I had weighed in January at 134 pounds and was down to 123 by April 1st. Went from a snug 6 to a loose 4 in pants.

Then April came and with it my 38th birthday and a trip to Arizona with girlfriends. To say I hit the wall would be an understatement:) All of a sudden I was in line at McDonalds with my medium Coke!! It wasn't pretty.

May I gave myself off. Don't ask why.............

June I got back on the wagon and in a big way Frank was coming home!!!

July he came home and it all went to hell for 2 weeks. I actually had margaritas and steak!! Ughhhhh!!!!

August I said !@#$ it!

September back on! He was due back home in less than 2 months and wanted to start working out with me. Ughhhh!

October crashed and burned! Can you say "Halloween CANDY"!!

November first two weeks I was on fire. No junk period!! Walking 3 miles 2 weeks straight!! He came home............

All went to hell:)

December first two weeks started lifting weights, a little cardio. Last two weeks............

All went to hell!!

Conclusion............

I weighed in today at 130 pounds even, I had cheese popcorn for breakfast this morning, I really am thinking about going next door to El Burrito for a Coke and taquitos, my back hurts from this chair I've been sitting in the last 3 hours, these size 4's used to be loose and in less than 4 days I'm starting all over again!!

Stay tuned:)

It's going to be fun!

 

 

 

Very Merry Christmas...........

Hi everybody!

Well it's less than 48 hours before Christmas now.........

Hope you're ready:)

I'm beyond ready!

And I don't know about you but I'm also ready to put 2011 in my rearview..........

During the last week and a half I have been lucky enough to have attended some fab soirees........

First was Song of the Season at Kim's and taught by the very talented Karla Nathan.

I of course forgot my camera! So you'll just have to trust me when I say it was amazing:)

We made this gorgeous wreath with wire and lace............

With that cute little bird. We also learned a little painting technique and did these boxes........

Sweet! Now with that box are a couple of the gifties I've gotten over the last few days...........

Let's look at some more gifts shall we.............

Earleen made me this and you should see everything inside!

Can you say WOW??!! She even made me a cuff. Which is great because I gave all mine away:)

Then Sherry sent me this..........

Packaged all sweet..........

How fun!! I love the mail:)

Then I got this beautiful Madonna from Kim.............

Then I have been talking about swaps right? We did a charm, bath product and ornament. Here are just a few pics. It was too amazing to even put into words!! Everyone is so talented and thoughtful.........

I tell you we were like a bunch of 6 year olds on Christmas morning!! Just look at that packaging! Have I mentioned I like a good package! And this is not everything! It was CRAZY!!

So to top everything off, last night was my Annual 3 Pea's Christmas I do with Char and Elaine. This year we went to tea at Martha Green's in Redlands. I brought my camera but..........

Only took like 3 pictures! I know I am hopeless but I got one of the dessert lol:)

And my wrap, French General inspired..........

Some pretties.........

I got 2 of those, JOY!!

Adorable table runner for Spring and the cutest little dresser with soaps in it:)

I also got this amazing white crown from Char and a beautiful scarf from Elaine and a sweet bird that chirps and starfish ice tongs and and and...............:)

People probably thought we were insane when we walked in packin' heavy lol:)

It was really a wonderful night! This past week and a half with all my friends has been wonderful. I am so blessed. I am so thankful!!

I hope you all have a very blessed, very peaceful holiday and that you find joy in the little things.

That and that no one has to call the cops on anyone;)

 

 

 

Lace and baubles.........

So I was kinda hinting around at these cuffs I made from Karla Nathan's tutorial..............

But I had to wait til they all found their proper home..........

Some are still waiting but since I have a little time I thought I would just post them:)

Every one I made I thought about that specific lady and how much they had meant to me all year long.....

I tried to think of colors and foofiness they would love and went from there.........

I didn't have to go very far lol:)

Everything I needed was right here, so nice to use stuff I already have!!!

In this crazy artsy crafty world I have the tendency to become a little bit of a supply hoarder! I find these awesome, beautiful pieces and I hate to use them!! They just sit all pretty in their little container and smile brightly whenever I open it:)

Some of you know what I mean and some of you don't;) Like the girls who will get the whole dress form thing and then there are those who just don't. It's ok;) I know I am crazy!

Here are a few............

Ms Denise

Ms Cynthia

Ms Terry

Ms Earleen

Ms Cheryl

Ms Kim

Ms Annette

I've got 3 more that still need to find homes:)

I'll post those later because they have some awesome vintage jewels on them!!

In case your interested in learning how to make go visit Karla at Karla's Cottage!!

Have a lovely day!

Just for fun............

Fun I say and impractical some other people say...............

It's a good thing I don't really care what other people say;)

"June" in her holiday finest...........

All white this year. And don't you just love the vintage suitcases??!! The train case is from Lisa Loria. Bought it at The Vintage Marketplace a few weeks ago. She painted it and I just LOVE it!! Goes perfect with my cream suitcase I got off Etsy last year. So much fun. The larger suitcase is monogrammed and I always wonder where it has been and imagine the clothes it held. Probably lovely!! Gloves, stockings and all kinds of fun stuff:) The tall hat box Earleen had given me a gift in and it just looks so sweet all together.............

Her little skirt from Rita Reade and the doilly scarf from Serendipity Salvage. Both at The Village Marketplace in Rainbow a few weeks ago.

I don't think my pictures do her justice. But she is super cute and makes me smile:)

I mean seriously just look at the pink ballet shoes!

I want to be her lol!!

 

 

Give, give, give...............

I just love giving and I absolutely can't wait for The Song Of the Season holiday party at Kim's tomorrow!!

We have swaps galore!!

A few bags of goodies:)

A few tokens of appreciation:)

Our colors for the party are aqua, pink and white. I just know everything is going to be absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see everyone!

Can you tell I'm excited:)

I am all packed and ready to go! Can't wait to share our fun projects with Karla and all of our swaps!!

Have a great weekend!!

Don't drink too much punch lol;)

Hello there.............

Well it's a cloudy Thursday here in SoCal today.............

And I am home.............

ALONE!!!

It's glorious:)

At least for the next hour anyway...........

I have been asked to put up some pictures of my holiday decor. Which I must say is a little lacking this year. No tree............

{GASP}

I know my mother is probably turning in her grave!!

But with Christmas Day at dad's this year and leaving for Jackson Hole the very next day for 7 days taking down a dried out Christmas tree, after being in the car with ALL the kids for the equivelent of 3 days, when we get home seemed very unappealing..............

But I did get the bannisters done and took out some of my favorite things............

So here you go:)

That's about it. As you can see I still have a thing for burlap:) Also still loving all my natural looking decor from Pottery Barn last year. Birds nest, twigs, acorns love it all! Crystal bowls filled with white and silver ornaments plus a few vintage tairas here and there. Beautiful! And this year I took out all my mercury glass votives. They look really pretty beneath the "Joy" banner we made with Denise last year:)

Well I have about 20 minutes before the first head comes thru the door..........

Think I'll blast the Christmas music lol:)

 

Winners!

As you can see I totally forgot to do this last night!

So with comments numbered 1-17 first to last..............

Number 4 and winner of the gift card is...........

GRACE!!!

Number 13 and winner of a French General charm bracelet I hope she doesn't have.............

KIM!!!

Congratulations ladies:)

I so wish I could have given everyone something especially since I know everyone who left a comment!!

Happy Wednesday:)

What have I been up to.............

Well I finally sat down and got to work on this..............

            
               Karla Nathan's Cuff Tutorial. 

I purchased this online class about a month ago! Not the first one I've done of Karla's. I got hooked on the Halloween and then did the Romantic White Christmas one last year. I just hung up my feather boa wreath from that one. Love it! Then more recently I did the mini dress form so sweet and lots of fun. It gave Lindsay some great inspiration for her FIDM project:)

And now I have the Song of the Season Holiday event at Kim's where Karla will be teaching. AWESOME!! So looking forward to it!

To get started I bought cuffs from Sara at the Sparkling Shamrock. She was such a sweetie and did a few custom orders for me:)

Truth be told my desk looked like that for well over a week!

Then Saturday with Frank in the garage, Lindsay and Zach at work and Tyler playing with friends I thought better get this party started:)

Now I have to say I put this picture on my Facebook and got a few inquirers as to what the heck are these for???

Too which I have to say it's a little bit of a secret. A little bit of a tease I know;) I photographed every one of them and once they find their proper homes I will post pictures. This is only half of them! Maybe give you a little inspiration if you want to take Karla's Cuff tutorial. It's only $6 and you can also purchase kits in her shop if you don't have tons of crap like me:)

Anyhow they are all now complete and wrapped up, ready to go!! 

Can't wait for the holidays!!

So you are probably looking for a WINNER!!

It's still early:)

You still have time go HERE and leave a comment!!

I will officially close it at 5pm PST tonight.

Then Miss Lindsay will pick two winners:)

See you tomorrow morning!!!