Day 31: "Gather your Thoughts"

Today was the last day of my "Picture the Holidays" project.  It was such a wonderful project as it brought out my creativity, my interest in taking better pictures and just reflecting on things and seeing them in a whole different way.  We tend to look past so many little things in our daily life that it really added something special to this holiday season and finding meaning in every little thing in my life.  Good or bad.

Today's pic really makes me hopeful for 2011.  I feel it is going to be a great year as I am anticipating a job back in the district and hopefully where I want to be (with a wonderful principal and friend).  So with that being said, here is my last post for "Picture the Holidays" and 2010.  Bring on 2011 and please keep following me.

This was in yesterday's Chicago Sun-Times; my horoscope for 2011. It really speaks to me in what it predicts for the coming year and hope it is the path I will be taking for 2011.

Day 30: "Now There's No Looking Back"

This is me and my camera looking toward the new year and all I will learn and create in 2011.

Day 29: "Toast"

My toast is for everyone's dreams to come true in 2011!

Day 28: "Through the Looking Glass"

Young Sherlock Holmes examining the tree through his looking glass.  Doll given to me by my mother-in-law last year from her large doll collection.

Day 27: "A Breath of Fresh Air"

Vacated bird's nest in my tree.  Makes me remember that  Spring WILL eventually be here.  Hopefully it's tenants will return in the Spring.

Day 26: "The Day After"

This was a nice way to spend my "day after". Starbucks and my new I-Pod.

Day 25: "This Magic Moment"

This was my "Magic Moment", received my first I-pod!

Too busy to take other pics today.  Hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas!

Day 24: "Enchanted"

Love my tree, enchants me every year. I love to sit and just look at it, especially today. Christmas Eve, my FAVORITE day of the season! Everyone enjoy!


 

Day 23: "Life is Sweet"

Was going to post a pic of cookies, but picked this miniature ornament with it's sweet treats instead. They look almost good enough to eat. Maybe they have "mini calories" too.

Got together with a few friends for a small cookie exchange today.

JP, ML, me and MB

My cookies in my Longaberger Cookie Basket

ML's sister H, made all of these on the platter:



Day 22: "You are Getting Sleepy"

Finally a topic I can relate to.  HA, HA, HA.  Love them all, but today was about resting, relaxing or napping.  Something I can do anytime I sit on my couch.  Here's my post:

"I am an avid napper. Usually every day. All I have to do is get on my couch with my favorite comfy blanket, and I'm out. This was after a vist to Target, Caputo's (Italian grocery store), and making of more pizzelles (Italian cookies)."

Pic of my feet in the most wondeful wool socks my mother gave me.

Day 21: "Attitude Adjustment"

This was a note from the instructor regarding today's assignment:

Note: Simple gestures of your body can translate attitude. You can work the same magic with inanimate objects too. Try capturing something (yourself or otherwise) that really speaks of the attitude you want to express today.

This is what I posted:
This is my "Attitude Adjustment" to the world.  Peace and Love all the year through, not just during the holidays.

Day 20: "Wrapped with Love"

Present for my dear friends. All things homemade too. Framed b/w photos of their home, homemade card, and (not pictured) homemade Italian pizzelle cookies. (no worries about them seeing this, they're not really big on the computer and blogging)

These are the presents under our tree.  All but four for #5!

Day 19: "Make a List"

Today's assignment was "Make a List".  Ha Ha, me make a list?

I am NOT a list maker. I probably should try it some day (when I go back to work, then I'll make lists), but until then, I'll fly by the seat of my pants!

 

If you saw yesterday's post, that might explain it too.  I may be messy while creating, but I keep it all in my head, then just do it!

Day 18: "Recharge"

Today's assignment was "Recharge" and what recharges you. 

This is how I recharge. I start creating. Messy, I know, but my favorite saying is that "creative people are seldom tidy".

This is what I was creating.  A little journal with photos and things to send to my sister.

Thanks JA for the idea!

Pics of Christmases Past

(sorry to my brother, I didn't have any of the three of us.  That's what happens you're the last I guess)

Our two boys and nephew.  Christmas 1995, #5's first Christmas.

A Christmas photo of our dad at around the age of about 1 1/2.

Day 17: "Warm Glow"

My friend K's beautiful glowing fireplace.

Day 16: "The Season of Lights"

View of my tree from outside, with the streetlight and neighbors lights in the background.

Day 15: "Got Gifts"

Today's prompt was to create a gift tag;

This adorable snowman has gifts on his sled. Delivering them in his Longaberger Basket, of course!

Other ideas I had.

Day 14: "Sincerely Yours"

My dad wrote these while in the army in 1962. Both to his parents; the 1st right after my sister was born on Thanksgiving day 1962. He was so excited that he just kept calling her "the baby". The 2nd was about him coming home early.

Some other old documents my mom has.  Copies of both of my grandmother's birth certificates.  See how I got my name?

These are war ration stamps

St Nicholas, (of course)

Made my mother take out a few X-mas decorations.  She had NOTHING out. (Although St. Nick is always out)

The little tree "Charlie Brown" brought her last year.

Happy little Santa to be let out of the storage box.

Day 13: "Simply Divine"

Took this picture in June while visiting St. Joseph College in Indiana for a baseball tournament. Find this just "simply divine".

Day 12: "Whole Lot of Happy"

Had a hard time deciding because there are so many things that make me happy Kept looking to the idea of X-mas & my tree for inspiration, but then found it in my son. Eating, which is what makes him happiest (besides baseball). My homemade pizza too!


 

Day 11: Shaping Up

"This Christmas is shaping up to be "EGG-tra" special! Corny, I know, but one of my favorite musical egg ornaments."

Day 10: "Twinkle Twinkle"

Today's prompt was "Twikle Twinkle".  And I just so happend to take this last night at K's for our Christmas get together and ornament exchange.

Twinkling ice cubes in a martini glass from last night at a Christmas gathering with good friends.

Good Friends

K's beautiful live tree.....

.....and her equally beautiful fire place

Day 9: "It's a Sign"

Had a hard time with today's assignment. Didn't know if I should look for a real sign or a metaphorical sign (because I believe in them). Then realized, this is both, because "Happy" is what Christmas time makes me.

Other "signs"

Day 8: "Reflection on the Season"

I knew alot of people have been submitting the same sort of photos.   One's of the themselves taking a picture of their reflection in an ornament.  Or self portraits in mirrors.  I did one of an ornament the other day, but did not post for that reason.  Today's prompt was "Reflection on the Season" and hope I got a good one.


Sun reflecting on my snowflake pendant:

Here are a couple more I took too: