Happy New Year - 2011!!!!

The New Year is about to begin for us....in about 6 hours........I maybe down stairs watching all the festivities of the New Years programs and will most likely watch the ball drop in New York City. We had no plans for partying tonight, as it all depended on the weather.....as of now it is foggy out.

We did go out to dinner at the "Taste of the Windy City" JP had a gyro and I had a cheeseburger.....oh yummmmmm. I missed going to Inches A Weigh today, as my car was getting fixed, another $249 dollar bill again. Well, so far we have invested $500 into the taurus and we have had it almost 2 months. YIKES!!!! Going to keep a running tab on how much this car costs....when it hits $5000.00 we are getting a newer car. HA HA HA!

Have you made any resolutions for the new year? I haven't, can't keep them anyways. I am thinking I will try and lose a few more lbs, not sure how much, by the end of March I am quitting Inches A Weigh. It has been 2 years of going regularly and sad to announce has not been a success for me......I have felt like I have been under much stress for two years more than anything.....and that is not the way to feel. This whole experience should have been a good one and I have not found it that way. Plus, it has been very expensive and now I have a car payment plus extra upkeep. So "cherio Inches A Weigh" we are off and running in a different direction.

As for Etsy and my card making, I would like to do a little bit more, been alittle lax in this area. The merchandising has slowed down a bit, which is fine with me, maybe now I can focus on card making and get my cards out there more. I really see a few changes coming on the horizon in the next few months, I just hope I am up for all these changes, good or bad......I am not sure.

Well, see you in the new year 2011 for now this is ~Louise~ signing off for 2010.....Cheers!!!

Boeuf Bourguignon a la Julia Child for Christmas Dinner....mmmmmmmm

Well, here it is.....Julia Childs "Boeuf Bourguignon" made in my new dutch oven. Was a long and envolved recipe......but very much worth the time spent on making it. I think I will make this again but using larger chuncks of meat next time. Gosh this was delicious. My new tradition at Christmas Time....tr la la la la la...... Here tis Christmas dinner, all set up with a relish tray of olives, celery and carrots and dip. Cole slaw and garlic toast with Julia's boeuf bourguignon over noodles. If you would like the recipe I used, you can find it at: http://www.food.com/ and type in "boeuf bourguignon a la Julia Child" When going to this site you will find many other recipes for beef bourguignon.....take your pick and enjoy!!!!! There even is a weight watchers beef stew.

Well, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, may your new year be the best ever, thankfully spring is not far off when we get into the new year, but enjoy and take rest cause the busy season of planting gardens and flowers will begin again.

Blessings ~ Louise ~

I'm Dreaming of a WHITE Christmas by whatshername on Etsy

I was picked to be in a treasury by "whatshername" that was a neat Christmas surprise. Click on the following link to see my "White on White Christmas Card"

May your Christmas be Merry and 2011 be your best ever year!!!!
~Louise~

Click on this link:
I'm Dreaming of a WHITE Christmas by whatshername on Etsy

Merry Christmas Blessings

Here is a Christmas card I made and sent out to friends. Colored her in with pens, H2o's and sprayed her with glimmer mist and placed her in a pre-made card. Wa-La a pretty lady wishing you Merry Christmas Blessings.

Almost done with preparing for Christmas.....which is only 5 days away. Where in the world did this year go? So much has happened and what have I learned throughout this whole year? I am not sure, will have to sit down and write everything out, month by month, day by day. Shall give myself two weeks to reflect and maybe I will come up with a blog report after it is finished.

I received my Christmas present plus birthday present from my Step father. He gave me $100 to spend for whatever. I bought a Mini NuWave.....oh gosh is it ever a neat little appliance. I made a whole chicken in it the other day, was it ever delicious. Last night we finished up the bird and then I turned it into chicken soup. Yummy!!!!

My Christmas present........... finally got a Dutch Oven!!!! Only paid $30 for it compared to even Walmart's Dutch Oven which was $60, the brandmark is "Better Homes and Garden" I guess you are paying for the name. So in this case, cheaper was the way I went and still have a nice pot. I have made a few things in it. A vegetable soup that was out of this world. And a stew that came very close to being out of this world!!!!!!

I am thinking that for Christmas I want to make that lovely Beef stew that Julia Childs made...Boeuf a la Bourguignonne. I found the recipe so, if I make it, I shall take a picture and give the recipe right here on this blog!!!!!

Well, I shall close for now, as sometimes I can get pretty wordy at times, so you have a great day and talk to you soon.
~Louise~

Winter's Greeting Snowman

Winter is here, whether we want it or not. We got 11 inches over the weekend.....whew, guess that is better then rain, as our roof leaks into the ketchen, so snow is better at this point. Well, here I have a snowman card, he is a "Winter Greeting Snowman" as I have finished the Christmas cards. Now it is on to Valentine and Winter Cards. I am going to put him in my etsy store, probably tonight, you can go to http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ to see all my other cards. This particular card will be $3.00 + postage. You will receive one free card of my choosing plus a bookmark.

Well, you have a great day and see you in a few days as I am trying to get ready for Christmas and get all my cards out to friends and family. Take care and take Jesus!!!! ~Louise~

Silent Night

"Silent Night, Holy Night".........this is my newest card, made and put in my Etsy store last night. The price is $3.00 + postage. Go to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ to see how I made the card. Going to make a few more of these cards to send out to friends and family. But I have to get a move on if I want them out this week end. Cheers ~ have a great day ~ Louise

An Iris Fold Christmas Card

Made this card last night, using my own templete (not hard, just cut out a square)layed it on a snowflake Cuttlebug folder and cut it out then smudged with red ink. Used ribbon for the iris fold (following a templete), the iris is gold wrapping paper. Topped with a ribbon for a bow then covered the snowflakes with red speckles then added Merry Christmas. This is a closer look at the Iris Folding with ribbon.

I am going to add this to my Etsy store tonight, the price will be $3.50 + postage. You will receive one free card and a book mark for free, so total cost will run you about $5.00 tops, if it goes over I will pay the rest. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! The card will come with an envelope and clear plastic envelope for protection. The inside of the card says "Thank God for His Son♥ His Gift too wonderful for words. 2 Corinthians 9:15"

Go to http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

~ A Choice We Must All Make ~

~ Please read John 3 ~