Top Ten of 2012

 Nothing makes you look forward to a new year like looking back over the past one - whether it was wonderfully special and rewarding (like this last year was for me) ,  or a disasterous mess that you cant wait to put behind you and forget, (I've had a few of those in my lifetime also),  nothing says "bring it on!' like a look backwards to propell you into the new year.

I also enjoy reading all the "Top Ten" posts that pop up all over during this season of nostalgia and reflection. I especially love seeing which of my li'l ol' posts were your top favorites!
So in spirit of the season, here is yet another the list!
 Top Ten Blog Posts of 2012 :
1. For Really Big Mistakes ....
2. Broken Glass
3. Project 52: Now Here's the Kicker ...
4. Dealing With Disappointment
5. Project # 49 - Christmas Lights
6. Project #16 - Waterfalls
7. Project #25 - The Steam Engine
8. Holy Hot-Pink-Butterfly-Pen, Batman!
9. DIY Room Makeover: Part 1
(Which just reminded me - I lost the part 2 post!  I will post that before the end of this year, hahaha!)
aaaaaaand.......
10.  Starting New and Project 52 ....

I also follow of few blogs regularly that I wanted to share with you, take a peek - you may find yourself adding them to your own personal favorites also!

Top Ten Blogs I Follow :
1. The Life of Mrs. Miles ( my mentor's blog - love her!)
2. Kandee the makeup artist (she has tutorial videos and vlogs on youtube also)
3. Kevin & Amanda (my newest addiction)
4. 1000 Awesome Things
5. A Beautiful Mess
6. Huge Love  (the talented sister of Kandee the makeup artist, from #2 )
7. The Velvet Doe
8. DavidFunk.ca
9. journey.  (my cousin's blog - love her!)
10.  I Am Photograph ( good tips for photographers)


What about you?

Are there any good memories/traditions or routines from that past year that you're committed to continuing on into the year ahead? 
Any bad habits, negative attitudes or destructive patterns you've resolved to leave behind and begin a fresh new year without?

Do you have a "Top Ten" list to share also? Feel free to make your own and post the link in the comments below, I'd love to read it! ;)


I wish every single one of you a SAFE & Happy New Year,  and I'll see you all next  year! ;)

I'm outta here  and gone like 2012,
-J  ;)

Deck The Halls With Christmas Cupcakes ......

Fa-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-laaaaa!

 

 

I'm not exactly a closet cupcake-fanatic, I don't try to hide my lunacy deep appreciation for these tasty little treats AT ALL haha. 

So my friend Melanie was spot-on when she surprised me with these adorable, delicious-looking tree ornaments this year as part of her christmas gift to me. I was tickled to be able to 'deck the halls" with festive cupcakes.

 

With so much going on and a house packed full of family and friends this Christmas, I knew it was gonig to be a challenge to remove myself from the holiday festivities long enough to take a few shots of the action - bit I managed to snag a few....

Here's what our Merry Little Christmas looked like through a lens ....

 

 

The kids the morning of their school christmas concert - and one of the rare moments you'll catch Zach wearing a tie....

 

 

Decoration above the kitchen cabinets... I decorated everything but the kitchen sink. I'll get to that next year . . .

 

 

Mr.Nutcracker stood guard ...

over the yummy holiday treats my mama baked and brought out for us. Mr. Nutcracker did a terrible job guarding them, I got away with far too many, haha

 

 

 

 I set the camera timer and set it down on the back of the couch to catch a few impromptu candids of our family and friends at dinnertime (so that I could be in one too! (farthest to the right) It was only once I downloaded them that I noticed they were a bit blurred, I should have reset my shutter speed to freeze the action better.

 

Merry Christmas to all of you out there, and I wish I could have had room for every single one of you to be sitting at our table with us!

Warmest Hugs Like A Pumpkin Pie Right Out Of the Oven,

-J

 

 

Baby, It's Cold Outside . . .

One of my li'l munchkins YEARS ago, all bundled up. Look at those kissable CHEEKS hey? haha  Well,  to quote a buddy of mine from Facebook this morning, "what??? the world didn't end???!  I was not expecting this. I better go do some Christmas shopping..."   Ha! 
Well,  I'm all prepped for Christmas in the gifts department thanks to my friend and mentor BARB who so graciously gave of her time, effort and ingenious crafting skills to help me MAKE all of my gifts this year!!!

Check it out...
a delicious rosehip tea blend concocted by Barb herself!  ( you can go to her blog  HERE to see more, and I think she will be posting a DIY soon if you want any recipes or packaging how-to's)

 

Vanilla-scented sugar, (made with natural whole vanilla beans) for when you're feeling "fancy"!  It tastes as heavenly as it smells!  ( What? I had to try some - quality control, you know)  

(photos by Barb)


Speaking of COLD though, we didn't just sit around making sugar and tea and sweet little treats like a couple o' suckers, OH NO, we did quite a workout too.
This is why I believe that most people ( myself included)  NEED a workout partner - someone to keep you accountable, someone you can rely on to MOTIVATE you on the days that you just feel like skipping your 4k run in favor of a warm blanket and a book on the couch by a fire.
To add a festive "tune" we tied bells to our ankles so that we jingled along as we ran, hahaha! It was hilarious but we got smiles and waves from everyone we passed, hahaha. See how easy it is to spread Christmas cheer?
 

 

(both photos by Barb)

 

And I can tell ya, a good workout like THAT makes the blanket and the book and the fire that much more enjoyable afterwards!

 

 



But there is still the matter of FOOD for the holidays, so I'm headed out to pick up all the fixins and put my name on the reserved list for a  gi-normous turkey!

 

If I don't post again before Christmas, I wish each and every pair of eyes reading this a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and I'm sending you all hugs through the computer right now!

 

 

Gone like the last of the vanilla sugar in the jar on my countertop,

 

-J, xoxo

 

 

You Still Remember Me, Right?

Is is sad that this is the most revent photo of me? Taken back in the summertime? ACK! 

 

Ahhh, the joys of being a photographer, you spend all your time behind the  lens taking pics of everyone and everything else so much that ya kinda forget about actually being in any photos yourself!

 

Quick photo update then of the past few months ..

 

 

A backyard bonfire party with friends, that resulted in a housefull of hyped-up, happy children with sticky-marshmallow faces and exhausted parents, and a slightly scorched patch of grass in the backyard, hahaha ( it;s all mostlygrown back now, thankfully)

Ridiculously delicious pizzas made primarily by yours truly.

 

 

 

Helping this lovely lady prep for her successful craft fairs. She had such beautiful gifts to sell, all original, handmade lovelies that were so thoughtful. I especially loved her paper "Mistletoe-to-Go" crafts. For you married folks I recommend hanging it from the headboard of your bed.

 Not exactly subtle, I know, but definitely effective, hahaha!

 

 

We're getting all ready for Christmas, here is my son Zach with his Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gift that he put together himself (he spent his own saved money to fill it) before sending it out. Proud Mama moment here. (Though not proud of the pic quality, sorry folks!)

 

 

My next challenge is to try to snap a pic of myself at the gym. I love to workout so I love that they have a good sturdy heavy bag there for me to work my marital arts on.

I'm also working on some homemade gift ideas in the coming weeks so I will be posting those as DIY's so y'all can get 'er done like we are, hahaha!

 

Homemade Everything This Christmas,

-J