A Wonderful Holiday!!!

Yes, that it was.....being with the family and celebrating being THANKFUL....along with all the yummy food....equals A PERFECT DAY!!!! We always have a bit of a hard time on Holidays with our schedules...Joe works for Amtrak and this is their busiest travel time...so he is never home on Thanksgiving until late....he is helping others get to their families!!! Danielle is a nurse and this year she works Thanksgiving....so she worked Wednesday night and Thanksgiving night...helping to bring new life into the world!!! They arrived later in the day also...so I took the time during the day to love up my Mom and Dad!!!! They had Thanksgiving Dinner at their house this year...and of course I brought tons of things over to help out!!! We are very blessed!

Love you Mom and Dad!!! Love you Danielle with all my heart and soul!!!These three make my LIFE....HOPEFUL!Catching that silly little smile!!!!
So today...what am I doing....starting to put up the Christmas Decorations...Usually this brings me much joy...digging through all the boxes and finding buried treasures that I had forgotten about...but with all the construction on the house...digging in boxes is just not that exciting...I also have the downstairs in so much disrepair...I have decided to just put a few things up in the upstairs!!!! So think of me today digging through boxes to pick just the perfect accent...not too much I hope!!! Christmas Music is being played and Cosmo is having the time of her life...being mischievous and into everything!

Today is Happy List Time!!!

1. I am happy I am not out with all the crowds on Black Friday...running for all the sales! I have never been a Black Friday Shopper...but maybe on Monday I will check out what is on the net...so much easier!!!

2. I do have several of my Nana's bowls and I do fill them with vintage Christmas ornaments each year....I love VINTAGE for Christmas!!!




3. Baking is WONDERFUL....I adore it and I will be trying some new recipes this year..Look at these peanut butter Santa's...I think the boys would love making these!!!



4. I love to see all kinds of Christmas Trees...how they are decorated and look at this one...It is something I have never seen!!!

5. This Christmas Tree reminds me of my childhood!!!!
6. Candles again...but I cannot imagine putting these on steps...but the colors are Fabulous!!!


7. Centerpieces with fresh trimmings and natural sprigs...love it!!


8. How about these cookies....the recipe looks simple enough and I know I can get Evan to help me!!!
9. Are these not awesome colors!!!! I would love to add a few of these to the tree...in fact wouldn't it be a great color combo for the entire tree!!

10. AHHHH a pheasant tree topper...now you are talking my style!!!


How about a peak of a couples cards that I have made for Christmas!!!! Thanks to Kristii.....I bought a kit from her to get me going!!!! Are these not the cutest!!


I am wishing you all a wonderful weekend.....hoping if you are out there shopping you are finding awesome deals!!!! Love ya girlies!!!! Smiles!!!! :-)

WHOO HOOO.....It's Monday!!!

What a terrific weekend it has been!!! I spent the day Saturday watching Evan play in his soccer tournament and I must give his team major KUDOS!!!! They played for 5 hours with only one small break and they played their hearts out!!!! The first game they lost by one point, second game they won 10-0, third game they won in overtime 5-4, and the last game they lost 2-1!!!! They came in 3rd place in the tournament!!! My little man did Fabulous...one game he scored 5 goals and the game that went into overtime he was the goalie, and blocked 4 out of 5 overtime kicks!!!!! We were totally covered in mud...I had to giggle when I got home....my shoes were coated and I had mud all the way up my back...and I was only running the sidelines...Here he is....my HERO!!!

My Goalie!!!! Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees...but I did get a glimpse of a few behind him!!!I LOVE this one!!!! Great action....look at the ball and his face....just perfect...except for all the people in the background!!!Look at how dirty his hands are!!!! He is telling me 10!!!!! That is what they scored in this game!He was a bit upset...the other team had just scored on him!!!! Poor little man!!!Gavin attended the first game and he was on the hunt for something!!! Gavin had such fun with the leaves....He loves his Nana!!!This is what it is all about!!!! That smile.....OH MY GOODNESS...I just realized something....Santa can bring those two front teeth!!!!!! LOVE YOU EVAN MATTHEW!!!!

Sunday was spent getting the desk put together...the final touches and the computer loaded up where it should be!!!! One more thing crossed of the the to do list...down to 99 more things to do!!!! :-)


I showed you a LO last week and now I can post it....THE NEW CHALLENGE at CafeMojo !!!! It is a Sketch and I loved this one!!!! So how about taking some time in the next two weeks to join me in this Challenge!!


I just adored working with the G45 papers......Such great colors and patterns!!!

So I am off today with the boys...Evan has off school and we have some errands to run!!! I know they are just going to love me dragging them to Ikea and Home Depot...but then we are off to Toys R Us to make a list for Santa....My problem this year is....Evan does not want a thing...Danielle gave him a Target Toy Catalog and he circled.....AA Batteries.....he said...we need these Mommy!!!! He also asked for Flash Cards...That is IT!!!!! This is going to be a tough one for Santa this year...so I am hoping we will get some hints from Toys R Us!!!


I want to take this time to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!!!! I am so very Thankful for all of my blessings....my FAITH, my FAMILY, my FRIENDS!!!!! I am Thankful for all of you...for bringing such joy, support, love and inspiration into my life!!!! I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!!

Good Morning America!!!!

It cannot possibly be Friday Morning.....but it is!!!! My head is still spinning from the busy week I have put in!!!! First off.....the contractors did get most of the work done!!!! YAY....but......the job they did leaves a lot to be desired....so I have been walking around painting the messy walls they left behind. Joe is NOW in charge.....I have handed over the responsibilities to him....in other words....look out guys...Joe is not a HAPPY CAMPER!!!! It felt so good to finally say...I can't do this anymore....will you please take over!!! Ahhhh delegating...why did I not do this sooner!!!

So......Tuesday the contractors were here all day...Wednesday....I took Evan to school....cleaned up the mess from Tuesday, worked on some projects, and then started to put all the pics that were on the foyer wall into the new frames...Thursday.....took care of the boys and we worked around the house in the evening doing small jobs and today...I am taking care of the boys again!!!! I am hoping to get the family together this evening to visit The Avenue for the Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities!!!!! Saturday...keeping our fingers crossed that there is no rain...and Evan can play his soccer tournaments!!!

It's Friday and it is....... Happy List Time!!!


Thank you Donna for the wonderful compliment! I am so glad that you enjoy my Blog and my attitude....because without a great attitude....Jocelyn would be one GRUMPY lady and yes...my glass must remain half full...no other way to look at it!!! We are so close to the Holiday and I have tons to be thankful for..... Being Thankful makes me HAPPY!!!



1. I am trying this new recipe for a Pumpkin Cheesecake....I love to bake...so no fear here!!! I will also be making the traditional pumpkin pie!

2.I loved how this basket looks sitting on the antique chair....pretty...pretty!!



3. I usually make a sweet potato casserole but going through some new recipes, this looks really good!!!




4. I love leftovers....I love to make tons of things with the leftover turkey and this is one of them....using turkey with artichoke hearts and lots of veggies and seasoning....YUMMO!!!




5. I saw this the other day and how simple...you know we all have paper that we can use!!!! How cute!!!

6. Look at these pretty little balls...they are made with beans...Ok now I know I am losing it...do I have the time to sit down and glue beans to Styrofoam balls!!!! Oh Jocelyn....you are so sleep deprived!!!

7. Using apples and cinnamon...now come on...how bad can that taste!!!!




8. Ahhhhhh..Mums and candles!!! You know how much I adore my candles and Danielle has a few of these mirrors and small votives...so I am snatching these today to make a centerpiece!!!


9. More pumpkins and gourds!!!



10. My wonderful friends and family...you all make me SO VERY HAPPY!!!! Thank you for your support, your encouragement and your kind words!!! You will never know just how special it makes me feel to read each comment that you leave me!!! I ADORE YOU ALL!!!! I received this award from two of my wonderful friends.....Kim and Brenda and I thank you so much for thinking of me!!!!



This award is given to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These bloggers are not interested in increasing their own status, but rather aim to find friends and be friends. The hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are born!

I would like to pass along this award to.....Sandi, Michelle, Donna, Chris, Hanneke!!!! These ladies are the best and you must visit their Blogs to see how wonderful they really are!!!

I actually did create something this week, as mentioned above!!! I loved this pic of Gavin Joseph!! He is such a Cutie Pie!!!!





These great papers and I got to use every bit of my Graphic 45!!! YAY!!!!!! This is the way to squeeze every little bit out of your kit!!!

Enjoy your weekend sweet friends...take time to BE THANKFUL.....take a deep breath....hug the ones you love a little closer and SMILE!!!!! :-)

Starting another week!!!!!

Well here we are and it's Monday Morning......I love Monday's....one BIG reason...I have my Boys!!!!! Today I will take my Evan to school and then home to take care of Gavin....I have an appointment to see the Oral Surgeon again....keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that all is doing well!!!

Joe got the desk together on Sunday.....yay!!!!! We have one more thing checked off the TO DO list....which has about a 100 things on it!!!! I have made the decision that the downstairs will get completed when it gets completed....With the Holidays fast approaching...I will put most of my energy into preparing the upstairs as a Winter Wonderland...and the downstairs can wait!!! I am only one person and only have so many hours in the day!!!! I am OK with this!!!!


The Contractor did come in on Friday and mud the bathroon walls and one of the office walls....where the dry wall contractor did a terrible job and he also filled in the nail holes in the foyer to prepare for painting....The weather looks like it will be clear on Tuesday....so I am hoping most of the work will be completed Tuesday...but I will believe it when I SEE IT!!!!!

The weather has been horrible for several days with tons of rain....and there was NO SOCCER on Saturday....BOOOOOO!!!!!


I did get a LO completed with a kit from Blue Moon Scrapbooking and I must say....I adored the products in this kit!!!! Lots of Graphic 45 and the best embellies ever!!!!! I can only show you a sneak....because I did this one for a Challenge and it will be up later this month!!!

Here is the Kit and I just love all the wonderful goodies!!!! I can't wait to do another LO with it!!
Are these papers not the Greatest!!!!!!
This week should be quite busy......I have the boys Thursday and Friday....It is National Education Week....so I need to figure out a way for someone to watch Gavin for an hour or so.....MeMe needs to get over to the school and see Evan on Friday!!! I just love this time to see the children in their classrooms!!!!!


I am wishing you all THE BEST WEEK...filled with smiles, love and HAPPINESS!!!!! Love you girlies!!!!! :-)

I TOLD YOU SO.......

What did I tell you all in my last post....the contractor was supposed to come in on Thursday to do the painting and the other small projects to finish the job up.......WELL......no he did not and I am SUPER ANGRY!!! Now the excuse...it's raining so it will take the paint longer to dry!!!!! Watching you all work is like watching the White House being painted and dried!!!! I was LIVID...I was NOT NICE.....and where did it get me....We will be there on Tuesday of next week!!! OK...I am now officially throwing the towel in and GIVING UP!!!!! I am so frustrated!!!
Whew...now that is off my chest.....let's go on to some Happy Things....after all....it's that time for...

10 Things That Make Me Happy!!

While looking through all the Martha Stewart pics last week...I spied a ton of Happy Things!!!

1. Here we go again with centerpieces...but I adore them!!!




2. I am getting my shopping list together and I must admit....TURKEY is my favorite!!!!! Now you know my TURKEY always looks like this!!!!! :-)


3. Garlic Mashed Potatoes.....my family loves them this way....I have to save some without putting in the garlic...the boys and Shawn are not toooo fond of Garlic!!!

4. Oh My....the only time I make these is for Thanksgiving...but we do love roasted pearl onions!!!!
5. Who wants some green beans....I love them and drizzled with tarragon infused olive oil!!!!


6. I love the look of this front door....would that not make you happy to drive up and see this!!! I know I would be!!!!



7. I make this every year......homemade cranberry sauce and we love it!!!



8. Do you want to come over and have a seat for this yummy dinner!!!!




9. More pretties to set around......I love decorating with fruit!!!

10. Now I am working on some ideas for downstairs and I have a perfect place for this size table and I just adored how the pics were hung!!!! What do you think?


It has been a busy one for us...but I did do some creating!!!! Are you proud of me!!!!

This LO was completed with my November Kit from JEN'S HOUSE OF SCRAP...It will debut on the 15th!!!!!

My Evan at his first game of the season last year!!!! So, see you do not have to use the kit for just Fall Layouts!!!

I used some punches on the LO and it was fun to play with them!!! You know you have toooooo many things....when you forget where you put all your punches!!! OOPS!!!!

I also did a card with some scraps left over!!!!! The leaf is a piece of chipboard and I covered it in paper!

I went out with the Girlies on Monday night to the Melting Pot and I mean we had the best time!!!! Good Food, Good Friends and so many laughs....I was crying tears....You know how it is when women get together....some of the conversations were crazy....but we so enjoyed one another's company!!! Here is a pic of all of us at the end of the evening!!! We all get together once a month and scrapbook!!!!! This is how we all met and we are still going strong after all these years!!!
I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend...I am off Saturday for Evan's soccer tournament!!!! I love soccer!!!!! Create, love and relax!!!!!

GOOD MONDAY MORNING!!!!!

Where in the world did the weekend go....did someone see it pass so quickly!!!! I have a feeling this is an indicator as to the next two months!!!! The whole Daylight Savings Time still has me mixed up....I am up at 4:30 in the morning and by 9:00 at night...I can hardly hold my eyes open! Darkness setting in at 5:00 pm....just makes for a longgggggg evening!!!!

Well.... John, my tile man has been here all weekend....working on the foyer tile....and it is finally completed....check one more thing off the list!!! The contractor has promised to be in Wednesday and Thursday of this week to complete the painting and repairs that he needs to do to finally get this job completed...do I believe him.....NO I do not!!! We will see!!!

I am taking care of the boys today and tomorrow....man MeMe is going to be tuckered out!!!! Joe will be home sometime today..... I am supposed to go with my scrappy girls for a night out for dinner and drinks. My dear Jamie and her two sweet angels, are so sick with H1N1 virus, so I am not sure if we are going to be meeting or not!!!! This virus is such a scary thing...we have lost so many children (125 as to date) and to tell you the truth...I prefer to stay out of crowds!!!! They say this flu has not reached it's peak as of yet!!!! I worry for my boys...especially Gavin due to his severe Asthma....MeMe too...with Asthma and Myasthenia Gravis....this would not be good for me!!!

I have a creation for you today.... There is a FABULOUS challenge over at Cafe Mojo...this one is FALL, FALL, FALL into the season!!!! I know you have some great Fall pictures just waiting to be put to paper and I would love to see some familiar faces enter the challenge!!!! This LO was made with the kit from Jen's House of Scrap!!!!! I have a ton of product left over to create more pretties....


This LO is my Mom and I at a Fall Festival last year.....My Mom and I have a very close relationship....we always have, and we can get the giggles at the drop of a hat....We had so much fun at the festival.....eating...dancing....putting our bids on Silent Auctions and even winning a few!!!! My parents are starting to have quite a few health issues and I realized just this year...that things will never be as they were....and that puts that bit of fear in my heart....but I make every effort that I can to spend quality time with them!!!!!



I used my Martha Stewart leaf punch on this one and the papers were just beautiful!!! I so wish I could find the Martha Stewart Loopy Punch.....anyone know where I can get my hands on one? I have searched everywhere!!!!!!

We also have a wonderful Challenge coming up on Scrap Around The Clock...This is a challenge on REMEMBRANCE, what a better time to remember those we have lost!!!! I thought it was wonderful to add into the challenge the loss of a BELOVED PET!!!


I lost my Porsha Miss Precious 6 years ago, and she still holds a huge place in my heart....she was my girl and I loved her so.....Where Momma was....Porsha was and this was a really hard one for me to do!!!! I have journaling on the back of the hoop!!!! Porsha Momma misses you, and there will never be another doggie like you!!!!! The family has encouraged me to get another dog and I have never been able to bring myself to do it!

I am wishing you all a Fabulous week with lots of smiles and creativity!!!! I think this maybe a slow week for creating and thanks Chris for your ideas for me on Christmas Cards.....I need to put this card making into gear!!!!

Oh My.....I am a slacker!!!!

Oh Ladies...I apologize if I have been MIA somewhat this week...It has been one of those weeks! Did that thing called LIFE get in the way of my precious friends!!!!! I think it did!!! I did have a couple of small accidents this week.....a really bad bump to the head and then I reach into the drawer for a knife and some man I know....put away the chef knife in the wrong direction...and yes, I sliced my thumb good...I put some butterfly stitches on it....but I think I need stitches....but I don't want to go to any of the emergent care facilities because the N1H1 is horrible here....so I will watch it today and see what happens!!! OH MY....!!!!!


I began this week with a Fabulous Monday....I took Evan to school and Gavin and I headed to McDonald's for breakfast, then to our local mall in search of tennis shoes....Hmmmmm this little man's shoes went missing and we had to go and buy new ones.....He is so precious....just walked through the mall with MeMe and showed everyone who walked by his new SHOOZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!! We then headed to Target and I put him in the cart....he was tuckered out!!!! We shopped again....loaded up the truck...had lunch and then headed home for a nap....both of us!!!! What a fabulous day I had with my little man!!!! This is what life is all about....simple..wonderful...time spent with the ones you love!!!!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday have been a blur.....trying to get these contractors to finish the work.....complaints being made....missing furniture....that the restoration company has lost.....oh just a pain in the tail.....so I needed some smiles!!!

10 Things that Make Me Happy!!!!

I love this time of year and I love to decorate...but as you all know....I lost most of everything I had with the flood in the downstairs...so I went to Martha Stewart and yes...there were some of the things that I made several years ago!!!

1. An acorn wreath....is this not beautiful and yes I had collected all of those acorns from our trees...but the wreath did not survive the water!!! I will be collecting more acorns this weekend!!!!



2. I always make centerpieces with fresh cranberries...I think the pop of red just works perfectly!!!
3. Look at this adorable acorn cake!!!! I know the boys would love it!!!


4. Working with corn husks....can produce this!!! I really did make these last year and loved the look of them!!!




5. Pumpkins and pears make the best table settings!!!



6. Last year I found some awesome branches and I did put something similar to this in my foyer....it was so pretty and sooooooo simple!!!



7. Candles make everything look so pretty...I just loved these!!!




8. How about another wreath made with corn husks!!!! How awesome




9. Of course in the middle of all this crafting you have to stop and have a chocolate latte!!

10. Along with that latte...I grabbed a piece of bread smeared it with peanut butter and jelly and ENJOYED!!!!


I got my November Kit from Jen's House of Scrap....Oh please check it out...it is stuffed full of great goodies!!! This is the second Month and I truly believe the idea of having affordable kits for scrapbookers is Fabulous!!!!!



This is a LO that I completed with the mini...school kit!!!!!
Just loved the colors and pencil paper in this kit!!!



I am trying to decide what to do for Christmas Cards....I need something really simple and that I can do lots of!!!!! I have sent handmade cards for the last ten years....but I keep adding to my list! Any ideas for me.....please!!!!!!!!!!

You also need to check out this Blog and store......I just found it and ordered two kits and I am telling you these are the most awesome kits!!!! Priced for everyone......and just the greatest unique projects...I can't wait to tear into my Happy Mail that just arrived!!!! Blue Moon Scrapbooking! They are having a DT Call.....so go check out the details, all of my TALENTED FRIENDS!!!! I also got a phone call from the owner checking to see that my order arrived and that I was HAPPY with it!!! Can you believe that!!!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.....I promise I will be back to leave comments on each of your Blogs...I have missed you!!!!! Life....listen to me....you need to give me at least an hour to spend with my friends....I need my friend fix!!!! LOVE YOU....girlies!!!!! :-)