You've seen the pink ornament box posted below, this box is one that I made on the road to making the other box. I hardly ever get a new design just as I'm imagining it in the first try. But, I think this box still turned out pretty cute, (the glitter on the ornament didn't photograph well) and it's going in 
I like to wrap the boxes in this shred and then in tissue so that they arrive in perfect condition. Then, I take them all packaged cute to the post office. My post office has employed one or two guys that like to be funny. Last time I was at the post office, I told the postman that my package was fragile (I wanted him to put that orange sticker on it) and he asked me if I'd wrapped it properly. I told him that I thought so. He held that package above his head and asked me if I would be comfortable if he dropped it (I am not making this up). "Not really comfortable," I said. He told me I should probably re-pack it. Then he told me that my box would be stacked under other boxes up to weights of 70 pounds. It's a miracle they all don't arrive "schmooshed" (this ought to be a technical postal term). So, I told him that I was in a rush and I had to ship it now and I asked him if rather than a "fragile" sticker, I could get one that said, "place on top" and "only toss underhand". But, I'm putting more peanuts in the box next time for sure. 
I've been finishing up some monograms recently. Here are two in pink and green (my favorite!) The top one seems to be for a little dancer. I put the ribbons to add a feeling of motion, they also make me think of point shoes, but I don't know if she's a ballerina or not. 
There will be a few more Christmas ornament boxes in 
I like to decorate my tree with Mexican Paper Flowers, but every year I think maybe not this year. Paper flowers don't save well from year to year. You can save them. When I used to do a crepe-paper flower tree (which was just insanity) the flowers were good for about 3 years in a row. I just love the way it looks when it's finished I guess, because I can't stop myself even though making the flowers has ceased to be fun and I find myself in envy of people who get their decorations out of a box (what a great idea!). We tend to be a bit Christmas crazy around here. Well, I still need to make the orange flowers and when I get them up.. I'll show you. 
I love Charlie Brown.. The music from his Christmas special reminds me of the good kind of Christmas busyness. It makes me think of making cookies, going to concerts, wrapping pretty packages... all that stuff. We make sure to see it every year as well as several others that are part of our Christmas movie collection. What's your favorite? Actually C hates that kind of question so let me re-phrase... what's a favorite Christmas movie that you love to see this time of year?
Lincoln's Thanksgiving Address
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. 
I wanted to participate in Natasha's Prom, but I swear to you that I couldn't find a single High School photo of myself other than the ones in the year book (they're too small). I don't know what has happened to them all. I really looked and I just came across case after case of pictures of little c. Anyway, I did wear those sparkly earrings to several formal dances. They sure pinch, I've never pierced my ears and these particular clips are just mean. I didn't wear the necklace below to prom, but I wore it in High School all the time. I begged for this necklace and got it for my birthday one year I think. Cute huh? They are called parrot pearl, but I like to call them my pig pearls.. it's more fun to say. :) Happy Prom everyone!
Every year as a family tradition, we go to see The Nutcracker. We love to do this, even C who loves everything Christmas. It's funny though how each time we go it captures little c's imagination in a different way. I always ask her if she were in it, what part she would like to play and then she asks me (my answer never changes, I want to be the snowflake princess). Little c has always wanted the really big parts too. She wanted to be Clara and then She wanted to be The Sugar Plum Fairy. But this year, when I asked, I was amused to find that in her heart of hearts, she really wants this year to be the soldier "that gets to shoot the Mouse King". Little c has had a super-hero complex going for awhile now, so I guess this fits.
I am frquently asked if I can paint more of my boxes in the largest size. I guess I must like the medium size the best because I like to paint that size and I mostly have mediums, but these boxes are listed in the shop and they are the larger size for anyone who is interested you can see them over in...
A heartbreaking film about two people with Asperger's Syndrome. Josh Hartnett plays Donald a guy who is brilliant with numbers, but who can't keep a job driving a taxi. He starts a group for people who have similar handicaps where he meets and falls in love with Isabelle played by Radha Mitchell.
Very tender in parts, this movie is also very rough in places. It could have been edited better as well, it was not seamless. But, the acting was really amazing.
My sister, the English teacher, sent me this amazing article about a great American Poet. I enjoyed it very much. And since it's Veteran's Day today, or at least we are celebrating it today, I want to share a favorite poem about one of America's first Veterans in honor of all the great and good men and women who have kept and continue to keep us free. God Bless our fighting men and women stationed all over the globe today.
Imagine the photo on the left is of the cook. That's how frustrating I find cooking sometimes. I have all of 3 fool proof ideas for dinner and my family, although kind and patient always, is kind of sick of my ideas. Still, I love a nice dinner at home, not so much the food, (I love spicy and I don't know how to make it..) it's the company I love. In addition to the company, we now have a family dinner game, thanks to my new friend Barbara. Thank you Barbara! She gave me this beautiful jar and inside were all these really fun questions. The idea is to get a great conversation started that includes your children.
Our question of the night... "What other country would you choose to live in and why." I said that I would like to live in Sorrento, Italy. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. It seemed quieter there and so beautiful overlooking the ocean. Little c thought she'd like to live in Sweden because it's so beautiful and balmy there. When we explained about the climate, she was more attached to her decision because she loves snow too. C said he'd like to live in Santiago, Chile. Who knew. I may have never known that C liked Santiago so much and that little c wanted most of all to visit Sweden. Maybe we should visit those places together some day.
All the questions are really fun and we've had a ball with them night after night. We've been through them all and changed them a little. We've made up some of our own. Little c says as I put the plates on the table, "Will we play the question game tonight?"
Barbara gave me a paper written by Shirley R. Klein associate professor, School of Family life at Brigham Young University which reads in part, "Children who do not eat dinner with their families are 61 percent more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.... Teens who eat frequent family dinner are less likely than other teens to have sex at young ages, get into fights, or be suspended from school, and they are at lower risk for thoughts of suicide..."
My mother is homemaker extraordinaire. I ate every night on beautiful china plates. We always used napkins at the table and we always had a salad and usually two veggies. Don't get me wrong, we ate too many sweets and tons of ice-cream every year. We weren't perfect, but we had a beautiful meal every night together as a family. As an adult and a mother, I often think what an amazing gift that was. It's a gift that I'd like to give to my daughter as well. I'm not as fancy, but it's the being together and the veggies that really count.
So, what is your best 10 min. recipe for someone who doesn't love the kitchen part. I've already shared my healthy pizza recipe with you. Then, if you want to e-mail me at love.boxes@att.net and I will e-mail you back some of Babara's great questions. Then, cut them up and either fold them or roll them up and put them in a jar that can be set on the table at dinner time.
PS.. Ok. so, I didn't share my healthy pizza recipe, but here it is. French Bread halved. Pizza spread. Turkey pepperoni (it's truly delish folk and 80% less fat) low fat mozzerella cheese. 6 minutes at 400 degrees and 4-5 minutes under the broiler. Prep time is literally 4 minutes and served with salad.. it's a great dinner.
I never have a beautiful day for my birthday party... It's almost always sleeting, but look at this day... and I had garden roses on my table. My roses are doing amazing. A friend told me that my roses were a birthday gift from heaven. I certainly felt that way. I hope you had a beautiful day as well.
