Christmas and a Fortunate Year

Okay, so I know I'm a little late posting about Christmas, seeing as it's New Year's Eve and all, but, well, that's how it goes. I also know it's been almost a month since I blogged. *LOL*

Anywho, Christmas was great! I have mentioned several times that this year has been a good one for us, and it has. We were able to give a little more to our families this year. It's somewhat nice to not have to be so overly creative in staying within such a strict budget to find something nice for family members. Although, I will say, handmade gifts are probably the ones that are always best received. Unfortunately, I just did not have the time this year. But, that's okay.

The highlight of this Christmas is probably Christmas Eve. My siblings and I went in together and bought our parents a new TV, bringing them out of the CRT age and into the flat screen (and larger, of course). However, we had to get my mom out of the house to get the TV set up (my father can hardly see, so he's not much of a problem). So, many of us arrived early with excuses of rearranging the living room because we were going to be watching a movie that night (which we WERE). But then, how to get mom out of the kitchen and away for about 45 minutes? Thankfully, my niece had purchased the wrong thing for the gift exchange, and had to go somewhere, and got my mother to finally go with her.

Boy, was my mom surprised when she came home! But, the funniest part was that she only first noticed that we had rearranged the living area. It took her a few minutes to realize they had a new TV! (And, sadly, my father, who had been "watching" said TV for the last half hour hadn't realized either -- told you his sight was bad.) And then she started crying! Awww!! She thought it was the sweetest thing, gave us all hugs and then got fake mad at our tricksy ways! It was too funny!

We ended up watching The Polar Express, which she enjoyed.

Christmas Day was a little nerve wracking, as I had to sing a solo in church that day. Ugh! Singing solos makes me so nervous! I did okay, but not my best. Every time that happens, I think I should get a voice teacher. Well, we'll see.

But, later that day we went to Brian's mom's house and enjoyed time with his family.

All around we got some nice gifts, especially a new P&S camera from Brian's dad and stepmom. We wanted a little P&S to be able to carry around and not worry about MY camera. and boy, is it small! I think it's smaller than my iPhone! It's so cute. (I think this year I would like to start saving to buy a DSLR next year. We'll see.) And Brian splurged on me and got me some perfume that I've always wanted, J'Adore. It smells so nice! MMm.....

It really was a great Christmas.

And a great year. A blessed year. A fortunate year.

Which brings me to the shorter second half of this post. A you know, ever year we get ornaments to commemorate something momentous, interesting, big that has happened to use during the year. Last year, we got a Leica camera glass ornament. Since I had participated in Project365 that year, I thought it was only fitting.

This year, it too me awhile to think about what happened. Yes, we had a lot of great things happen this year, but how do you put that all into an ornament. We were truly blessed. And then, one day, in Hobby Lobby, I saw it -- a fortune cookie ornament. It was perfect!

And so, I share with you the scrapbook layout I did about this ornament.



I know I've gone on a lot about how great a year we've had. And I know that others haven't been as fortunate. I know that one day we might not have as much again, which is why I do things like this, so one year, when perhaps it might be hard, I can look back on this year, and remember.

So, here's to another great year! And, in the next few days I will post my "resolutions" per se, or really, things I want to accomplish in the new year.

Have a great New Year's Eve and Day!

Published Scrapbook Layouts

So, while I didn't officially complete NaBloPomo, I think I did pretty well. I had thought about doing it for December, but didn't think I should, seeing as the month is so busy. But, I shall try to post more.

Remember when I mentioned I was getting some scrapbook layouts published? Well, it has finally come out!

You can check out this month's issue of GingerScrapsStreet Magazine, or go directly to the pages that contain my layouts here (Winter), here (titles), or here (Christmas).

I think it's pretty neat! ^_^

The New American Dream

Recently I learned that someone I know is going to be looking at houses in the next few weeks. I won't go into all the details of this person, but I will say that, in my opinion, it is SUCH a bad idea! I know there's NO way they can have their finances in order to do such a thing, and so my mind wonders why they're even doing this!

But, buying a house IS "The American Dream" isn't it?


Over the last few years, I've watched/listened to enough Dave Ramsay and Suze Orman to know the best path to being financially fit.

Suze has even touted a revolution to bring about the NEW American Dream. Which is actually quite simple. It's basically, to stand in your financial truth—THAT should be the new American dream. It means to live in a home which you can afford (be it apartment, or rental home, or purchasing a home). To live a LIFE that you can afford, and not to be caught up with having everything. She says to get as much pleasure from saving, as from spending. Dave Ramsay is more about saving, saving, saving now, but I think it's about the same thing.

They both suggest having large emergency funds. They both suggest putting large sums of money down on a house you can actually afford (Dave suggests cash, but if you can't, then only going for a 15-year mortgage, and if you can't pay for that, then you need to get a less expensive house). They also say to avoid credit card debt. Is this so hard to understand? Yet people all over our country (and out) have problems with this.

I will admit, that when I heard the news about this person I knew, part of me was jealous at first. I would love to own a home, and we were so close at one point. But, then I look around me, and I smile. I like where we live. We have some nice things. It's comfortable. It's home. But more importantly, we're working toward a financial security, so that we don't have to worry, as many people do, when something goes awry (car repairs, or unexpected medical expenses). We don't live paycheck to paycheck, and we are blessed to say that.

It's their life to live as they want, it just breaks my heart to see people I know and care about making ginormous, potentially bad decisions that could impact them for years to come, when just some simple words of advice, taken and heeded, could make them happier and more secure.

It took our parents YEARS to build up the lives and families that we were born into. We cannot expect us to have it all right away. And yet, many young people do. However, I look at my parents now. Aged. Infirm. And with very little savings. That is not where I want to be at that age. Lesson learned. I hope.

I'm working toward my new American dream. How about you?

Korean BBQ

Ever had Korean BBQ? How about Korean BBQ from a food truck? Oh, I know. That image conjures up rundown food trucks with spotty paint jobs and possibly questionable food-preparation practices.

But, apparently, the food truck has seen a resurgence in the last few years, and they've gone all fancy and high tech!

A few months ago, my company launched their Christmas Book, and I was able to attend the launch party, where one of the things available was Korean BBQ from ssahm BBQ.

See what I mean about a high-tech food truck? (Taken from their site.)

I admit, I've never had Korean BBQ before, especially from a food truck, but I had heard good things, and so, I had a taco and kimchee fries that day. OMG! The kimchee fries! Sooooo good!

This is a pic from their site of the tacos.

Sadly, I couldn't find a pic on their site of the fries, but, just imagine all the stuff on the tortillas, slathered over perfectly cooked fries.

It took me awhile to remember their name, and I found them on FB last night. SOoo wanting to get some more! They occasionally do a dinner stop somewhat near my work, so, maybe one evening .....

Drool..........................

Do YOU Pinterest?

I think of Pinterest as a graphical representation of my virtual bookmarks.

According to Pinterest:

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and share their favorite recipes.

I like that instead of bookmarking a site, and only having a sometimes badly named link as my only reference, now I can see the lovely little image of whatever it is that inspired me -- craft, recipe, decor, etc.

Some claim it's a time waster. I don't know. No more a time waster than anything else online! *LOL* Also, I think it can be helpful when thinking about, say, what your decorator style is. Maybe you don't know, but it you start pinning everything you like on one board, then you'll eventually get to see a pattern.

So, if you want to,




And, if you need an invite, let me know! ^_^