My thoughts on the significant weekend snowfall

What if we stopped looking at significant weekend snowfall as something the devil is using to keep people from church and we started viewing it as a gift of God to slow us down.  A gift of unrushed days.  Unhurried moments when we spent time focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.  'Cause a little secret - God is more powerful than the devil.  If He wanted to stop the snow, it's doable for Him.

Enjoy the snow.  Enjoyed your snowed-in moments.  Embrace winter.  Spring is always next.

Snow! Snow! Snow! Snow!

My favorite snows...in order
1.  The 1st snow
2.  The last snow
3.  Inbetween snows

The only snow I dislike is the sneaky snow that sucker punches us after a "mild-February."  It's rude.  It's really not invited.  It's like that person who shows up at a party uninvited.  You can't say, "Hey - can you please leave." 

Today is the first snow.
My coffeemug is full of coffee w/a dash of peppermint extract and French vanilla creamer.  It's Christmas in a cup.

The trick is...

After several years of card-making, I finally figured out the trick to be overly-productive at my friend Nancy's stamping evening at Michael's.  ( Her event is from 3 to 9 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month. )

Hours before the event, I go through my card-making supplies and say to myself, "What stamps have I not used recently?  Which embellishments have been in this box for ages?" 

I pull out the not-recently-used stamps and the long-forgotten embellishments and I take ONLY those items.

Tonight my goal was to make cards for some smallish envelopes that my mom had given me over a year ago.

The envelope size was 3-1/2 inches by 4-3/4 (ish).  Not my standard A4 envelopes.  But cute and I had a ridiculous amount of this new size...and I was running low on my beloved A4's.

I pulled out kiddish stamps and 2 containers of square brads.  I used all by 3 stamps and none of the brads.  You win some and you lose some.

All in all, I assembled and colored 29 cards.  14 designs with some duplicates here and there.

I played around with my early birthday present colored pencils.  Ooooooh and I bought a colorless blender marker-y pen.  It blends the colored pencils so they have a watercolor finish.  No one else in the room had ever heard of this lovely piece of crafting equipment.  And you're welcome, Rockford Michael's store because you sold out tonight.

After stamping, the girls were headed to Thai Hut for nourishment.  Kathy and I opted to head to respective places of residence as we had both been gone from said locations since circa 9 a.m.

Back-tracking...IKEA was lovely.  I thoroughly enjoyed spending the beginning part of my day with my organization-loving co-worker.  We spent nearly 3 hours in IKEA and then sought nourishment at Sweet Tomatoes.  I forgot how much I love that soup and salad joint.

The weather today was February-esque at best and obstinate at worst.  It fluctuated between sunny & blustery to spitting snow-flurries & blustery.  One minute the snow would cease and sun would shine and the next said co-worker and I were looking outside questioning, "What is happening?"

April in the Midwest.

Joy.

I am praying tomorrow is "normal" and April-esque.  Because snow.......ain't nobody got time for dat!!!!

4 Snows

There are 4 snows that I love…

1. the 1^st
2. the last
3. Christmas Eve
4. any weekends that are without plans / commitments

That’s really it.  I probably would have a 5^th favorite snow if someone would volunteer to shuttle me back-and-forth to work…

A SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I was given the most fabulous Christmas present....a SNOW DAY tomorrow!!!!!  For real - we were given the day off tomorrow because of the blizzardish conditions making their way eastward toward Rockford. 

How fabulous is a SNOW DAY...especially when you are a grown-up.

Tomorrow I will...

...not have to wake-up to the obnoxious beeping of my alarm clock.

...drink way too much coffee.

...watch too many Christmas movies.

...make a saucepan of homemade (as in FROM SCRATCH WITH PENZY'S DUTCH-PRESSED COCOA) hot chocolate.

...maybe venture out to the craft store and pick up a skein of fun yarn!

...stamp and make cards.

...make some peppermint sugar scrub.

...mop my kitchen floor.

...wrap Christmas presents.

...hopefully be able to make it to the post office to mail ornaments to some of my favorite little people.

...stay in my pajamas for most of the day or until the appointed time to venture out.

...read more of my new book, The Christmas Shoppe, by Melody Carlson.

...smile often because SMILING'S MY FAVORITE!!!  And I don't even have to pretend to make my work my favorite.

...probably watch Elf.  (Laughing!)

...and lastly, tomorrow I will blog about my FUN snow day!!!

A confession, a chair, and snow

I have a confession for you.  And I want to begin this post with my confession and then move on from there. 

I've been kind of overwhelmed the past two weeks.  First with my role in the Christmas cantata.  Ann.  Overwhelmed, negative, and quite a downer.  The biggest hurdle for me was her incorrigible lines to the "nice" couple about their lack of children.  Saying these lines (and yes, I am aware that they were fictional lines!) outloud caused me quite a bit of grief.  It wasn't until I figured out who my "Real-life Ann" was that I could finally get in-to-character.  It took some pondering...but once I figured out who she potentially could be in real life, I was set!!!  [It still made me sad that she "said" these hurtful things outloud...but I told myself, "Some people don't filter and consider their words before they speak them."]

My second stress was my mom's surgery today.  The Lord worked a wonderful miracle and she was able to have the entire surgery (pardon my phonics :)) lap-row-scop-ic-ally.  I taught 2nd grade.  I break things down phonetically.  It's what I do.  :)  And don't lie, you like it!!!! 

Currently I am sitting in my living room at my desk...but not in the traditional way that one would assume that I am seated at my computer desk...you see, I've not found a computer chair that I like.  I'm looking for a wooden chair.  Are you wondering, Why in the world does Angie want an uncomfortable wooden chair???  The answer is two-fold...A) I don't want a super-comfy chair as I will end up spending too much time blogging (GASP! She said that outloud!!!) and/or pinning fabulous crafty things on the Pinterest website.  [Did you know - 27,000 people joined Pinterest in the month of November?  It was one of those early morning trivia things on the radio.]

Where was I?  Oh, yes the chair.  Soooo not having a computer chair, I dragged in a taller cafe-style chair from my kitchen.  I'm seated in the kitchen chair with my feet propped-up on the ottoman.  The keyboard is in my lap and I am typing away.  And actually it's quite comfy.  I could go for this set-up...but I do think I'd like to find a wooden chair BECAUSE...... B) I saw on Pinterest a cute painted chair idea.  I could coordinate my chair with my living room decor.

I cannot believe that there is only one week until Christmas.  I'm going to miss having my tree up.  My favorite thing to do in the morning is pour a mug of coffee, plug in the tree, and sit in my over-stuffed comfy chair and wake-up.  I will miss those soft white lights.

A big winter storm is headed out way.  It's estimated time of arrival is Thursday, December 20th at 9 a.m.  They are calling for anywhere from 2 to 20 inches of snow.  Nice.  I am trusting the Weather Bug website and my co-worker's aching back.  Something is a-brewing and it ain't my coffee.  I am hoping we get around 6 - 12 inches of snow.  You see, I LOVE SNOW!!!!  Tonight at the gym, the guy next to me was talking about the weather and I informed him, "I love it that it's going to snow!!!  I hope we get a foot!"  He looked at me like he was a small child and I said, "There's no Santa."  There is a Santa.  Technically, there was a Santa.  :)  The gym guy about fell off his elliptical which would've made for a lovely blog post and I have a feeling I would've nervous laughed.

I love the snow.  I love waiting for snow.  This snowstorm reminds me that I should go to Woodman's and make sure I pick up some more coffee, supplies to make hot chocolate, and ingredients for soup.

Tomorrow night is Christmas caroling!!!!  ...and there's a chance of flurries.  How perfect - caroling and flurries.  (Be still my beating heart.)

I hope you've had a lovely Tuesday!!!!

In like a lion...

March 2, 2012

Rockford, Illinois

March is totally coming in like a lion...

just as I had hoped and prayed!!!  

:)

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?  ~J.B. Priestley

Your Daily Cup O'Angie...

After reading the weather report on WeatherBug yesterday, I was anticipating waking-up to a blanket of freshly fallen snow...sooo much snow that I would teeter on the line with the decision -- to work or not to work?  I love days like that...  Snow Days.  Are there 2 better words paired-up?  Well...I can think of two other words that I would like paired-up...but alas, I shalln't digress.

Soooo I woke-up this morning, donned my fuzzy, pink robe & slippers, meandered out to the kitchen and poured myself a mug o'coffee (Berrers Brother's Chocolate Raspberry....if you haven't tried it, BUY IT!  DRINK IT!  IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!)....where was I?  Oh yes, after a sip of the heavenly brew, I pulled open the blinds to discover....NO SNOW!!!!!  What in the world?

I distinctly remember WeatherBug stating that we were under some Winter Storm/Weather-ish Advisory.  Snow, blowing snow, accumulation...all words used to describe the wrath of winter that was going to embark on the northern-most part of Illinois. 

And this...NO SNOW! 

I just don't understand.  It's January 12th.  No snow.  Not a flurry...not a smidge-bit-o'-fluff.  That's it -- if it doesn't snow by the end of this month, I am going to buy flocking (is that what it's called...the faux snow?) and I am going to spray all around the outside of the cottage.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Snow,
Your lack of concern for my mental well-being has just confirmed that our relationship is ova.  O-V-A. 
Sincerely,
The Girl with Curly Hair
P.S. Spring is, and will still remain, my favorite.  Just sayin'...

Where's the snow?

Upon removal of the Christmas decorations, I set out snowmen.  I actually heart snowmen. 

I have three cute snowmen (from my dear mom) on the bathroom windowsill.  Maggie likes to sit in said windowsill and stare at the birds, squirrels, occassional raccoons, etc.  I believe when she maneuvers around the snowmen that the first of the trifecta gets spun-around because...

It seems that every night when I get home from work, the snowman on the left is looking outside.  I wonder if he's thinking, Where's the snow?

I mean REALLY...without the snow, these cute snowmen would just be a pile of cute accessories.

Flip-flops to snow boots

Since Christmas day, I've been wracking-my-brain trying to figure out why it doesn't feel Christmasy.  And it's not that I am feeling Grinch-ish...or even Scrooge-y.  I just cannot figure out why it doesn't seem like it's the end of December and then it hit me...  There's no snow!  Infact, it's been unseasonably warm as of late.  And I say unseasonably warm as in unseasonably warm for the Midwest. 

Normally when I place my beloved flip-flops and summer sandals in their storage tote for their long winter's nap, I am then pulling out my snow boots.  Brown.  Faux fur at the top.  Lace-up.  Fabulous. Boots.  This year -- with the lack of snow, wouldn't it be weird if I wore my boots?  I've seen a couple people out wearing boots and I just can't bring myself to wear them.  I don't want to begin praying for snow -- as there are some upcoming events that would be most pleasant without the white fluff...so I shall offer up prayers of thanksgiving for the non-treacherous road conditions...  But mark it down, in a week or two, I shall begin praying for snow.  (When I typed the word "snow," I could hear the foursome from White Christmas - you do know the scene, right?  They are on the train heading to Vermont and they are singing "Snow!  Snow! Snow!  Snow!")

Question:  How can you tell I might've watched Bing croon one too many songs about white Christmases?  Answer:  When the voices in my head sound awful-lot-like Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen!!!




P.S. Too help make my blog feel more winter-ish, I've changed the music on my Playlist.  I found Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Snowflake....Let It Snow! by Point of Grace; Baby, It's Cold Outside from the soundtrack to Elf; and lastly Marshmallow World.  I hope you enjoy the winter-ish, snowy songs.

It snowed!!!!!!!!

Today is a big day for the girl with curly hair...dress rehearsal for the Christmas program, finishing up of Christmas shopping, and lastly stamping with a friend.  And in all actuality, the stamping with a friend is so that I can make another friend a box o'cards! 

All week, I've been praying for some winter-ish weather (i.e. snow)!  I've been praying specifically for a light dusting because I have learned that praying specifically is what God wants and, too be honest, I was concerned that if I left my prayer "open-ended" that if the Lord sent a blizzard...well, my prayers would've been answered in a HUGE way...so I've been praying for a smidge bit of snow.  And that is exactly what He provided!  I do hope this white fluff puts everyone in the Christmas mood!

It's snowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy December!!! 

I heard on the radio today that December 1st marks is the beginning of our meteorological winter.  I like that notion.  I've never understood why winter begins on the 21st of this month.  I've always thought that it would easier if seasons began on the 1st of the month in which they fall.  Doesn't that make sense? 

Big fluffy snowflakes are lazily floating down from the sky tonight.  It looks absolutely beautiful outside.  This kind of snow -- the big fluffy kind - is my favorite.  I prefer it to occur on Saturdays when I can stay in flannel jammies, under a fleece blanket, mug of hot chocolate in hand, and comfy slippers on my feet.  This Saturday would be a great day for a fluffy snowfall...as my only commitment is to creating Christmas cards!!!  Yes, it's going to be a stamping extravaganza at the cottage!  I'm sure there will be stacks of paper, envelopes, stamp pads, etc. strewn about for a 12 hour period.  Do I mind?  Ummmmm....NO!  :)  Creative genius sometimes calls for a mess...  Of course, the obsessive girl trapped inside me will put all the supplies away at the end of the evening.  It's what she does.  She, also, likes to wash the dishes every evening - leaving a super clean kitchen overnight. 

I found this fabulous snow quote tonight and I want to share it with you...

"When it snows, you have two choices -- shovel or make snow angels!"

  ~ Author Unknown 

I'd like to add that there's a third option...SNOWBALL FIGHT!