hugs across the universe™

And the winner is....

Drumroll please.....

Well, I'm happy to say, it's a fellow cut-paper connoisseur and a friend! Ellia of greenbeanbaby is the winner I pulled outta my cap tonite and so I'll be wrapping up a nice package for her tomorrow. Congratulations Ellia! I'm happy to know that you have two adorable kiddies to read this book to as well. I hope you all enjoy it.

Thanks to everyone that chimed in with your holiday traditions and participating in my little giveaway--they all sound quite fun and I might try a few myself--ah mimosas Christmas morning; good idea, Emily!

My favorite tradition for as long as I can remember is getting the stockings first thing in the morning and climbing back into our bed and everyone opening their stockings together. Santa always wraps the stocking gifts in our household and it is traditional to get an orange in the toe as well as a few walnuts scattered throughout. We all did this with my mother back in the day and she had a king-sized bed for all of us to climb into! Then we would have a nice breakfast and presents always came after that. We still adhere to that philosophy in this household. Naturally.

;-)

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

IN celebration of the fact that it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas over here (surprise! It's amazing what influence a 6 year old can have on you) I'm hosting a little giveaway.

  AND since it appears I'm finally back on track with my children's books and feeling very optimistic about that (which is a totally good reason to celebrate), I thought I'd send some good karma out into the universe and give away an autographed hardback copy of SNOWBEAR'S CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN as well as a pack of Snowbear Holiday cards to some lucky devil.

To be entered in the drawing, just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Holiday Tradition is for this time of year and I'll pull a name outta my Santa Cap and announce the winner on Friday--December 12th at midnite, Pacific Time. Make sure you leave an email address so I can contact the winner for a mailing address.

Good Luck and don't forget to make some ornaments outta glitter and glue today!

I always knew someday you'd come walking back into my life

"Indiana Jones...I always knew someday you'd come walking back into my life..."

And here you are. Me and the kiddo have been enjoying the adventures all over again. Such is the theme of the birthday party this weekend and the above is the invitation we made thanks to an old bubble gum card I have and a little photoshop.

We hired a reptile guy to come and show us snakes, spiders, and my phobia. Can't wait!!! It's gonna be great! We got the kiddo an indy hat and a whip and I ordered this shirt from an etsy seller. I sure hope it gets here on time; it's supposed to, but I'm getting a little nervous.

And I've been knee deep in making the goodie bags. 16 of these puppies!!!!

My skull rubberstamps I'm still getting a lot of mileage out of! And I scanned and printed the cover from the DVD of the Crystal Skull and added some glitter to the other side of the common paper brown lunch bag.

Birthday Boy gets the bag with the white skull

;-)

I worked hard on the contents. Drove all over town looking for indyesque items--the crystal skull goblets, skeleton straws, finger traps, mummy gummy candy, snake paper pads, Indy stickers and chinese yoyos that work like whips, and skull treat cups (Helps to shop before Halloween).

Each skull cup has a marshmellow brain on top (what a find!) and although I was wishing the cups were monkey heads (chilled monkey brains anyone?!!! ~ from Temple of Doom) it still is pretty cool I think. Underneath the brain is some gold coins and plastic snakes. Afterall, you have to go through some gruesome stuff to get to the treasure.

I have a bunch more coins and jewels that we are hiding in the outdoor sandbox for an archeological dig and the inside of the kiddo's playhouse is going to be "creepy". I'm dressing it up with skeletons, mummies and spider webs and of course some sort of treasure in there.

it's going to be pretty cool.

TRUST ME.