Learning that as you trust, you grow in faith in ways you could not imagine
Loving sitting by the Christmas tree with the pretty lights giving a magical glow to the room
Enjoying the fact that I am totally ready for Christmas two days early!
Watching the beautiful snow fall we are getting today
Reading lots of Advent inspiration
Craving chocolate! Always chocolate!
Accomplishing the organization of all my clothes for our upcoming cruise
Thanking my hubby for all his help with grocery shopping for Christmas dinner
Hoping I have time to really appreciate the true gift of Christmas
Dreaming of our first cruise on the Norwegian Pearl
Drinking coffee in my favorite Old Country Roses mug

What are you are doing as we speak? I would love if you shared :)

As We Speak

Learning that when you cry out to God, He truly hears and answers
Loving my new London Fog suitcase
Enjoying the photos my sister, Dianne, sends me of her sweet grandchildren
Watching The Jinx on Plex
Reading David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
Craving pasta!
Dreaming of our upcoming travels to Ireland in May!!
Accomplishing a whole lot of nothing - I am just biding my time until I can get outside when the weather is warmer and I can start working in my gardens
Thanking Mr B for his love, patience and generosity
Hoping that I can be the face of Christ to those who need it
Drinking Peach Cider - amazing but potent :)
Wishing for a week in the sun on a beach in the Caribbean 

As We Speak

Learning to just relax on my sales calls for work
Loving the sweet memories of another wonderful Christmas with my family
Enjoying our current Book Club pick - The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
Watching a great documentary on Netflix - Making a Murderer
Reading Lots and lots of emails for work
Craving a really good hamburger with fries! (That is what dieting does to me!)
Accomplishing a clean house after packing away our Christmas decorations
Thanking my hubby for the Chapters/Indigo gift card that came in the mail today
Hoping Winter passes quickly
Dreaming of Tyler and Aine's upcoming wedding in April 2017
Drinking Blueberry Banana Smoothies

Care to share what you are doing as we speak? I would love if you did :)

My 2015 Book List

I feel as though I have been quite neglectful of my blog in the past few months! With a new job taking me in a totally different direction, I do not have the time or inclination to be as crafty as I have been over the past few years and that is what I would normally blog about.

But, I still love reading and below is the list of books that I have enjoyed during 2015. Again it has been quite a literary journey and I have enjoyed the places I have traveled to in my imagination. My top picks would be All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese.

An Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling

Midwives by Chris Bohjalian

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (BC)

The Other Story by Tatiana De Rosney

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield (BC)

Home Front by Kristin Hannah

Room by Emma Donaghue

Ragged Company by Richard Wagamese (BC)

And Then She Was Gone by Rosalind Noonan

Never Too Late by Robyn Carr

Distant Hours by Kate Morton

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah

Daddy's Gone A Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg (BC)

The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin

Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay (BC)

Atonement by Ian McEwan

People Of The Book by Geraldine Brooks (BC)

A Hidden Affair by Pam Jenoff

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (BC)

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

Book Club Pick = (BC)

Little Red Wagon #315 - Turkey Day

Welcome!  Donna is our challenge hostess this week at Little Red Wagon and she wants to see turkeys.  Lots and lots of turkeys!

I had fun creating a paper-pieced turkey for my card.

I cut him out using my Silhouette Cameo and then paired him with some pretty papers, ribbon, buttons and a silly sentiment :)

Will you add a turkey to our rafter?  (I had to look that term up.  A group of wild turkeys is called a flock, whereas a domesticated group is called a rafter or gang.  Who knew?)  Stop by Little Red Wagon and link up your design. Also, be sure to visit the Girlfriends on the Design Team.  They will have some amazing inspiration for you. 

As We Speak

Learning to walk by faith, not by sight
Loving the smell of fresh cut grass - likely for the last time this year
Enjoying Adele's new song, Hello
Watching The Walking Dead - bad, I know!
Reading Winnie the Pooh for Book Club
Craving Chicken Pot Pie
Accomplishing lots on my to-do list, which is always a mile long
Thanking my brother, David, for sharing his wisdom with me
Hoping to see my family soon
Wishing for a pair of Lululemon Groove Pants
Dreaming of traveling somewhere warm
Drinking Hot Chocolate (I wish I had some marshmallows!)

What are you doing as we speak?

Little Red Wagon Challenge #314 - Mix It Up!

This week at Little Red Wagon, Brenda wants us to mix it up by using 3 patterned papers.

Well, I really mixed it up, because I ended up using 4 patterned papers instead of 3 and only because I didn't  pay close enough attention to the challenge description the first time I read it.

I cut my leaves out of coordinating patterned papers, inked them (just for Carolyn!) and added them to my Kraft background.

Then a simple ribbon, a lovely button and a fun sentiment finished my card off.

What comes to your mind when you think of using 3 patterned papers?  I hope you will share your creativity with us by linking up your project at Little Red Wagon.  Also, be sure to visit the Girlfriends' blogs.  There will be lots of great inspiration waiting for you.

Little Red Wagon #313 - Ghosts & Goblins

It's Wednesday!  And time for another great challenge at Little Red Wagon.  This week Janice wants to see ghosts & goblins, witches, monsters, cute trick-or-treaters... anything Halloweenie!

I decided to color up a cute image called "Patches the Ghost".

Now isn't he just the cutest little ghost ever?  I used my trusted Copic markers to do the coloring and then I dug into my wagon to find some twine, buttons and an itsy-bitsy spider!  (YIKES!)

I really hope you can join in the challenge this week.  Just stop by Little Red Wagon and link up your card!

Little Red Wagon #312 - Home is Where The Heart Is

Home is where the heart is...  It is my turn to host the challenge at Little Red Wagon this week and I would like to see a house on your design.

I went clean and simple again this week.  A simple house with a heart button, white on white frame and a sentiment I printed on my computer.

I also added a wee bit of pen stitching on the house.  If you would like to create a card with a house on it and link it up at Little Red Wagon, I will be sure to stop by your blog and leave some love!  Have a great week!

Little Red Wagon #311 - Tags

Happy Wednesday!  Heather's challenge at Little Red Wagon this week is to create a tag.  It can be a stand-alone tag or a tag on a card.

I decided to go with a stand-alone tag.

I used a Kraft background and then I layered some pretty papers on top.  I also added a birdbath and fence that was cut with my Silhouette.

I did lots of distressing with my edge distressing tool and my vintage photo ink pad.  Now I have a pretty tag to add to something in the future... a layout, a card, etc.

I hope you join in on the challenge this week and link up your tag at Little Red Wagon.  For more inspiration, be sure to visit the Girlfriend's blogs listed on my sidebar.  They are such a talented group of ladies!

Have a blessed week~

Little Red Wagon #310 - All About The Boys

Carolyn is our challenge hostess this week at Little Red Wagon and it is all about the boys!  She wants to see a masculine card. 

I had fun with this challenge!

First off, I found this adorable image and then I sat down with my Copic markers which is something I have not done enough of lately.   I think I enjoyed working with this image because it reminded me of our youngest son who used to love playing soccer!

Then I dug deep into my wagon of goodies and pulled together some matching papers.  I love the wood grain paper for the background! Normally I hoard my wood grain papers, but it just seemed to work so well on this card.  Next, I added a printed sentiment and a couple of buttons and there you have it.  A card that would suit many different occasions.

I hope you join us at Little Red Wagon this week.  Be sure to stop by the Girlfriends' blogs for some amazing inspiration and then link up your own card.  We will be sure to visit your blog and say hello :)

As We Speak...

Learning so much in my new job!
Loving the beautiful fall we have been having
Enjoying yummy apple crisp
Watching the grass grow.  Seriously!  We planted new sod and I am so happy it is growing :)
Reading lots and lots of emails
Craving sister time
Accomplishing a clean house
Thanking God for each day that I place my trust in Him
Hoping for a long Indian summer
Wishing I lived closer to my sisters
Dreaming about Thanksgiving dinner
Drinking coffee to warm me up a bit

What is happening in your life right now?

Little Red Wagon #309 - Embossing Folder

Our challenge at Little Red Wagon this week is brought to us by Mandy and she wants us to use an embossing folder on our cards.

I created this sweet little baby girl card.

The background is an embossed 'baby' word background.  I then cut out the banner, scalloped circle and baby rattle using my Silhouette.

Now you get to create something awesome using an embossing folder and link it up at Little Red Wagon.  Don't forget to stop by each of the Girlfriend's blogs also.  You will be sure to get lots of great inspiration.

Have a blessed week ~

Little Red Wagon #308 - Fall Theme

Another Wednesday already?  Time is just flying by and I can't believe we are already into our Fall themed challenges at Little Red Wagon!  This week Donna wants to see anything for Fall, y'all!

Nothing screams Fall more than pumpkins (well, except maybe leaves changing colors or cooler temperatures or long shadows or fall mums!) so I decided to add a trio of pumpkins to my card.

I also thought that some Kraft cardstock for my card background would add to a fall feel.  And instead of using ribbon, I actually pulled out some pretty yarns and twine and tied them to my card.

Even though I am not quite ready to welcome Fall, I enjoyed making this card.  Now it is your turn to think Fall.  Create a Fall themed card and link it up at Little Red Wagon.  We will be sure to stop by your blog and leave some love :)

Little Red Wagon #307 - Something New

Welcome to Wednesday and another great challenge at Little Red Wagon.  Brenda is our hostess this week and she wants us to try something new - a new stamp, new technique, new tool, etc.

I saw a great technique on my friend Jan's blog recently and I really wanted to give it a try.  It is a layered technique.

I printed out this sweet image 4 times and then I trimmed a bit off each one, going smaller and smaller each time.  Then I matted the layers and layered them onto the background.

I just love the simplicity and the effectiveness of this technique.  I also added some stitching and a bow I made using my coveted dyed and crinkled ribbon.

I can't wait to see what you try this week!  Share your technique with us by linking up your card at Little Red Wagon. See you there.