Raggedy Old Annies

Merry Christmas!

I am amazed that it is already Christmas! I swear, the older I get the faster the years go by and by! But even Christopher said Christmas came quick this year...and even this past month...well even week has just flown by! I'm a little worried this year...as my Christmas tree is looking very empty with presents! Normally I do not put anything out until after Christopher goes to sleep on Christmas Eve...but this year he was buggin and buggin me....so I put stuff out..but with no names! He's not stupid though..he knows they are all for him! And I even wrapped everything in similiar boxes! He has no clue! And what he is making guesses on is totally WRONG! And I even tricked him on one! LOLOL Here is a view of what little is there...and there is very little because EVERYTHING a 10 year old wants is VERY EXPENSIVE!!!!!! He's totally into XBox and anything electronic!!!!! I can't afford the boy! And clothes...only Quiksilver, Volcom, Element, etc will do! Is it just me...or do they start this fashion trend alot younger than we did? Don't forget....Santa will leave a little something too....and little probably doesn't mean cheap either!

I received my "WINNING GOODS" from Jen Duncan! OMG!!! Awesome fabric...and look at all the extra stuff she put in!!!

She spoiled me! If you do not frequently visit her blog...than you MUST!!!! She is a great inspiration! I even saw her post of her goodies from Kmart...and what did I do yesterday after seeing them??? Headed right over to Kmart! All the Martha Stewart Christmas stuff was 50% off. But sadly, not much left! There were lots of really cool ribbon and such to decorate your trees with. I LOVED the tree skirts....and they were a really good deal...but I already have one...so I didn't feel the need for another. Here is the little bit that I bought.

Then I spent the rest of last night baking cookies! My favorite M&M cookies that I have been making EVERY year pretty much since I've been married. Phew...that's a long time! I have tried several different M&M recipes, but this one is my favorite...and it's one my mom has shared with me! So I am going to share it with you!

M & M Party Cookies

• 1 cup Shortening
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups plain M&M's

1. Blend shortening, brown sugar and granulated sugars in a large bowl. Beat in vanilla and eggs. Sift remaining dry ingredients together; add to sugar-egg mixture, blending well. Stir in 1/2 cup (I add more) M&M's (reserving the rest for the tops of cookies).
2. Drop from teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet; decorate tops with remaining candies. Bake in moderate oven (375) for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Remove cookies with spatula to wire racks (I just lay them on foil); cool completely. After baking, some candies may be slightly cracked. This adds texture and interest (plus all the calories fall out).

Okay..there you  have it! I have made so many..they will be my breakfast, lunch and dinner! LOLOL

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!!!!

Happy Halloween!

This is our pumpkin!!!! Pretty cool huh? Okay everyone with kiddos...stay safe! I HATE driving on Halloween night! Not sure if we are trick or treating....C hasn't made up his mind. It's either that or Pizza with some friends.

I spent tonight getting another costume together for C.... he needs something scary but not too scary. He's working the "Haunted House" at school so they have to be spooky...but...they are not allowed to be spooky for school. So which is it? I'm not sending him with 2 costumes! UGH! So he's going as a bum....or hobo...whatever you wanna call it! I'll take pics in the morning.  oh!!!!! and I was working on a few things for Glitter and Grunge. Don't forget..that updates Thursday!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

I cannot believe it!!!! Where did the past year go? It just flew by and I feel like I have accomplished nothing!The picture above is me and my lil one taken just after mid-night at a friends house. Yes, we stayed up late to bring in the New Year. Rarely do I ever make it! But last night...they had me going...they were trying to teach me how to dance, and don't ask, because I WILL NOT share those photos (yes there are pictures)!!!!

It's the 1st of the month...so you know what that means!!!!! Glitter & Grunge update! Well the "Glitter" side of it! Grunge side won't be until the 15th. My update for Ranting Raven isn't working...as I had issues uploading and haven't heard back from them for help yet. So I'll let you know when I get that all figured out.

The doll sale is over.....and now I plan on moving just some of them over to the "Orphan" page. I plan on doing that on Tuesday, the 2nd and I will post when I do!

I have lots of goals for the New Year. I also plan on making some changes to  Raggedy Old Annies. I won't mention them yet.....still tossing it over in my mind! I also need to discipline myself better to keep on tract.

A special THANKS goes out to every one of you who have supported me over the years! I've had alot of customers since the beginning...and that's ALOT of dolls they must have in their houses!!!!

Happy New Year to you all !!!!

What I did today....

Well Christmas is now officially over. Sorta sad, and sorta glad! Christmas Eve was fun at my dad's. We did the ole Christmas Swap game, and I went with a present that I wanted...and stole it because I really wanted it, and come to find out....it wasn't what I "exactly" thought it was! UGH! So that means I burned myself! So I gave it to my mother in law. Ohwell...Christmas is for giving right? So what did I do the day after Christmas? Well I woke up to my alarm set for 5am and slapped some make-up on, and tried to curl up my hair a bit (showered the night before) and met up with my friend Vanessa and we headed out to the mall to find some GREAT deals! And that we did!!! I bought that pink tinsel pre-lit tree that Michaels had!!!! I wanted to buy it before Christmas but didn't....and sure glad I didn't because it was $39.99 and I got it today for $11.99!!! BIG SAVINGS! I cannot wait to put it up! It's going in my sewing room! I keep a tree year round in there! Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow....as I am pooped today....as believe it or not....I took down ALL my Christmas decorations!!!!! Everything is packed up and back in the attic!!! I know...I'm early...but I generally do it the day after Christmas. Christopher was a  bit sad to come home and see it all torn down.

So now that the rush is all over...it's time to get back to work! I've been slacking a bit lately, so I'm going to try and get myself back into the swing of things. Christopher is out of school the next 2 weeks....and he'll want to keep busy...but I want to try and get my sewing room back into shape after the last minute Christmas projects. I'd like to SLEEP IN every day until he goes back to school...funny huh? I would like to get some more dolls finished and on my website....and maybe some new designs....and maybe try some new stuff! And I'd really like to re-vamp my website, which means I'll need some help from my best friend Missy!!!!! She'll do anything for me if I ask nicely! So I will keep you posted when things change...and I've added some new stuff. And again..the sale is still going on!!!!! I'll keep it on until the last day of the month...then the dolls will be back to full price, unless they go to the "orphan" room! Please don't let that happen!!!!!

I am WEAK!

Yes! I am! Christopher woke up this morning...came running into my sewing room (where I was working on a last minute order for a purse, yes on x-mas eve) and he was screaming...."tomorrow's Christmas!!!!!". Then...he said..."when can I open a present?" LOLOL See, we always let him open a present on Christmas Eve, and I tried to explain that Christmas Eve is tonight, but since we are going to my dads this afternoon, I was gonna let him open it before we left, as I knew it was something he could play on the ride, and while there if he got bored. And he was so sad that he had to wait.....and well...since we are here alone (hubby is working) I wanted him to have something to keep him busy...so I let him open it! See....I told you I'm weak!!!! And I wonder why he "works me"! LOLOL Here's a pic of him opening it! As you can see, it was a game he really wanted for his PSP.

And...I want to THANK EVERYONE for partcipating in my sale!!!! I have my new moniter and I LOVE IT!!!!!! The sale is still going on! Need to clear out these babies and make way for the 2007 girls that I'll be starting as soon as Christmas is over!!!!

I wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Hope Santa brings you all that you have asked for!!!!

Move Over Martha!

Ha! Not really! I am no where as creative as her (or her crew) but I did get this from her Holiday Handmade Gift's Magazine! Every year I make my favorite M&M's cookies! This year I made tons! I love to pass them out! I've yet to mail some to Missy....I'm so sorry Missy! How could I leave my best friend out...but I did pass on the recipe to her and she made some of her own!

And on Friday my son's class had a party....and I was in charge! My son's teacher cracks me up! He sends out notices and calls me "room mom". So we ordered HUGE pizza's and had cookies and juice. Lots and lots of Candy Canes's were passed out (in lots and lots of flavors) and then some ice cream cups were brought. Those kiddos were WIRED! I took this cute picture of Christopher while in the class, and I wish I had it before I mailed out my Christmas cards!

Martha inspired me!

As I was in the checkout line the other day, I notice the Martha Stewart "Holiday" Handmade Gifts magazine, so I grabbed it, thumbed through it and tossed it on the checkout stand for some good reading material that night. I was tired, so I grabbed it, cuddled up in bed and began drooling over everything inside! Those little paper ornaments from old Christmas Cards, then glittered and strung were VERY cute....so cute that I hopped right outta my comfy covers, hopped on the computer, pulled up some vintage images and used my BIG circle punch to cut them out. I spent some time glittering them up, laughing as my son teased me that they wouldn't be worth more than 25 cents. But I enjoyed making them, and LOVED how they turned out! I have a stash for my best friend Missy, some for my dads girlfriend, and some for me for one of my little trees. I want to make more....I wish it wasn't so late in the year!!!! I wish I didn't get such a late start this year! Where was my mind? I hope you enjoy them!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

I LOVE Christmas! Mostly because I love the decorations! I don't go crazy and decorate the whole house, but I do enjoy decorating my tree....and only I am allowed to do it! Hubby doesn't care...so that doesn't matter....but I didn't want Christopher to be left out, so he has his own personal tree that I allow him to put anything he wants on it! Last year, I bought him a red tinsel tree. I wasn't sure how it was going to look....but OMG!!!! It's awesome! And we even have red lights on it! We keep that one in the family room...it's a smaller one, but perfect for him! This one in the picture is all mine! It's decorated with all vintage glass ornaments.  I haven't even really started shopping...have you? That is the only part of the season thats not my favorite! Mostly because I spend too much time trying to decide if thats the perfect gift or not. I'm not a big shopper...never have been (of course...unless it's for fabric). So I'm not really thrilled about the shopping part. But this year might seem sorta easy. All us adults have decided to do only "stockings" for each other....and for my lil Christopher...well he's growing up..and things are getting a little more pricier...and he's been saving his moola....so we are covering the difference on an Xbox 360 bundle pack. And I feel really bad because it's so expensive so that means not much under the tree...so I keep reminding him....
"you're older...things are more expensive". He keeps telling me he understands...but I'm a little worried that there might be a little sadness come that morning. So I'm putting a few more pics in the Photo Album section of the little bit more of Christmas Decorations that I have. It's really not much....but it's perfect for me!