Contest

Here is a new golfing card I did for a new client's daughter and friend!!
I need some insight. My birthday is coming up next week, and I want to celebrate by doing something fun on the blog and Come Together Website. This could be anything- I am open to suggestions!! If I take your suggestion, you will get a free packet of thank you cards!!
So, let the brainstorming begin!!

Oscar (the award, not the grouch)

Its the Oscars!! Which normally means little to us non-celebrity folk, other than we get to see movie stars all in one room wearing beautiful dresses with jewelry that costs more than our house.
As you might have figured out, I love movies. I love the feeling of being caught up in the amazing story of an unfolding drama, of watching the creativity of writing that leaves me guessing, of rooting for a character I have grown to love in 90 minutes. So, I like the Academy Awards.

This year I feel like there have been some great movies out--so I am letting you in on my favorites.

The top movies of 2007 are: (according to Come Together Cards)
No Country for Old Men
Michael Clayton

No Country is a rougher-type movie, eerie and creepy, but absolutely compelling. It takes place in Texas (shout-out!!) in the early 80's and has a character who is the creepiest villain I have seen in awhile. This is NOT a feel good movie, but sticks with you for days after you see it.
Michael Clayton was my favorite movie of the year. This is everything a movie should be-- amazing story, thrilling and gripping, and makes you cringe and cheer. This is every bit worth the $9 ticket price, and even worth a $6 tub of popcorn. And there is a little known actor they found named George Clooney who is pretty good too.

Runner Up-
Juno. Adorable, heartwarming and quirky movie. Ellen Page plays a spunky character you cannot help but love, and this is a fun, sweet movie. Not Oscar worthy, in my book, but the kind of movie you go to which you are looking for less gritty and more chick flick.

No, no, a thousand times no.
Atonement- Oscar loves the artsy, weird movie, and I am not sure if this is artsy, but it sure is weird. I came in hoping for a love story and left bored, unfulfilled and disappointed. Did anyone see any redeeming qualities in this movie? If so, please share, b/c I like both James Mc-whats-his-name and Keira Knightly, but did not care for this movie. Like I said, they usually choose weird movies to win, so I wouldn't be surprised if this got an award.

Others that deserve a mention:
American Gangster- The Godfather set in Harlem in the 70s. Its a true story, so it is entertaining and interesting, which amazing acting by both lead characters. Another rough movie.
3:10 to Yuma- a Western (which I typically wouldn't go for) but a great story of good guys vs. the bad guys that is more moving that you would expect a Western to be. My husband wanted to see it and I ended up loving it!
Dan in Real Life- a all around great movie, funny and sweet. Lighter fare than the others (which is nice, sometimes!)

Those are my picks! Check back and see if any of my favorites got props!!

American Idol

I know I am a in a small minority of people that DO NOT watch American Idol. I know-- all the other ones are probably people in America without tv's!

So, it was interesting when someone who goes to my church, Jason Castro, made it to the top 24. My husband just had lunch with him last week. Bragger.

The whole town of Rockwall has been buzzing for the past several months. People talk about it almost everywhere we go. I have gotten numerous emails "telling" me the news. I find myself getting over-American-Idoled every year, but this year it was really getting to be a bit much.

Frankly, I was out from the beginning. I don't really care about teenagers becoming the next Britney Spears or Daughtry. I know, I know, that makes me weird, b/c everyone else does!

But I found myself tonight, watching Jason, rooting him on. I guess its like watching the superbowl- its much more fun when your team is playing.

So, I guess I might watch an episode or 2. I might care. But you heard it here- I am not gonna vote!

Anyone want to talk me into the reasons I should care about American Idol? Please do so now or forever hold your peace.

Isn't my job fun??!!

Here is one of my newest creations for a 1st birthday party!!
UMMMM, I love this little baby flower-face!!

Cupcakes are the new black

Since we have had some strawberry cake talk previously, I thought I would share one of my favorite desserts with you. We had the opportunity to have them this weekend, and they are greatness. Sprinkles cupcakes with about an inch of icing. Yum.
We like strawberry, and I hope I don't sound like an 8th grade boy by saying that paired up like this they resemble female anatomy just a little bit. But it is not a pair of boobs, its my favorite sweet treat.

Sprinkles started in Beverly Hills and now Dallas has one. If you haven't had one yet, they are lots of fun. I have tried all different flavors, and I still stick with strawberry. It it REALLY sweet icing and not so sweet cake, and I like that combo. I have to get a bite of icing in every bite of cupcake but that is not really hard to do b/c of how much icing they can pile on. My ambition is to be able to make my icing that thick at home, but it must have an ingredient that makes it able to layer so well b/c at home mine just smears around. That might be because its out of a Betty Crocker jar, but I am not sure. I am pretty sure they might make theirs from scratch, but, again, that is just a guess.

Saving money

I heard of a good idea if you are into saving money at home. A couple on the radio put their money into a empty wine bottle. (I guess you can celebrate first by drinking the wine.) That way, they couldn't get out the money without breaking the bottle. That is good for all of us who love to shop and are tempted by extra money!!

I am feeling like the friend's of Come Together Cards are extremely mentally healthy b/c no one yet has sent themselves a Valentine. I mean, no judging, but do you think that is a little weird, to give yourself a Valentine? The jury is still out on that one, for me!! :)

Good candy

In celebration of the email newsletter I am sending out this morning, here are some great Valentine's candy treats voted on by real people, complied by Real Simple magazine.
(By the way, if you are not on the newsletter, you should be!! Sign up at www.cometogethercards.com)

The Best Chocolates on the Candy Stand
Real Simple staffers — and one discerning kid critic — spent a day taste-testing 38 sweet (and semisweet and nutty) confections, then picked favorites in seven categories.

Best Milk Chocolate--Ghirardelli milk chocolate squares

• The contenders
  Hershey's Kisses
  Hershey's Milk Chocolate
  Hershey's Milk Chocolate Swoops
  Hershey's Sugar Free Chocolate Candy
  Nestle Milk

ChocolateSurvey Says: Ghirardelli is the word in milk-chocolaty goodness, our panel agreed. "It melts in your mouth with creamy sweetness," one tester exclaimed. Pass the box! The Kid Critic: Ghirardelli tasted "chalky and smoky" in our littlest critic's mouth. Nestle Milk Chocolate rated best, she said, for being "more milky."

Best Peanut-Butter FixReese's Peanut Butter Cups

• The contenders
  Peanut Butter M&M's
  Reese's Pieces
  Twix Peanut Butter
  White Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Survey Says: Word among our tasters was that Reese's original cups had the "best texture and flavor" and lasted "a perfect time in your mouth." The Kid Critic: She also raved about Reese's but called a "peanut buttery" tie between the original and the white-chocolate cups.

Best with Nuts--Hershey's Kisses with almonds

• The contenders
  Almond M&M's
  Hershey's Milk Chocolate With Almonds
  Peanut M&M's
  Reese's NutRageous
  Snickers
  Snickers Almond Bar

Survey Says: Good old Snickers has many a devotee, but in the end, the almond Kisses cracked the competition. One tester happily volunteered to "eat a dozen daily."The Kid Critic: Our pint-size critic passed on these Kisses ("I really can't taste the almonds"), opting for Reese's Nut-Rageous, which she rated "the nuttiest!"

Best with Caramel--Hershey's Kisses filled with caramel

• The contenders
  Milky Way
  Milky Way Midnight
  Nestle Crunch With Caramel

TwixSurvey Says: Car-mel or ka-ra-mel? However they pronounce it, our testers declared caramel-filled Kisses "rich" and "brilliant."The Kid Critic: These gooey kisses got the high sign from everyone. Our kid critic's resounding comment: "They're the carameliest."The Kid Critic: Cameron Prince, age eight, loves Hilary Duff and American Girls dolls and expects the same sort of sweetness from her chocolate. She scoffs at "chalky, bitter" bars. To win her seal of approval, she says, chocolate must be "sweet, silky, and smooth."

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CHOCOLATE???!!

Smart cookies

I AM SO IMPRESSED BY YOUR GUESSES!!

Of course, I should have known how bright you

all are, b/c of course, you are lovers of Come Together Cards. :) hee hee.
Well, part of what makes my job REALLY fun is that people use my cards to send out good news! And that is what Laura did. I had to wait until today to post this to make sure all her recipients, (numbering 125!!) received this. So, as much as it killed me, I guess her big news was a little more important for her to share with her friends and family than me sharing it, even though I bursting at the seams! :)

Even though you don't know her, isn't that so fun!!?? Isn't that a great way to share happy news!!??

Guys are funny b/c I handed the finished card to my husband and he said, "ha, ha, player to be named later. " I was like, hello, they are having a new baby!! But that is just like a man to pick out that part of the card to be his favorite. You just know her husband thought of that!! :)

Fun Valentine card

Laura asked me to make this card for her family to send out for Valentine's Day. I realize you don't know her, but any guesses on why they are in love again? I will take your guesses tonight, and tell you tomorrow!!

I am redoing my office

Its actually quite a fun project, although the house is a mess. My office has always been in the front of the house, but because I have a need to leave things out and work on them, I am moving it to the back so I can make a mess and no one will see it. Now I am in the extra bedroom that just collected junk anyway.
One of the things I am most excited about is decorating it. I can make it fun and girly and mine!! So, I already bought a girly chandelier, (love it!!)and next I am to the curtains.

I am taking the curtains very seriously. I guess b/c I feel like I can do whatever I want in this room, and it doesn't really have to go with the flow of the rest of the house. Here is my inspiration for the curtains- its actually a little girl's dress. (BTW- if you have never seen this adorable brand, it is sold at high end boutiques and called My Vintage Baby. If only I had a girl, then I wouldn't have to make curtains to look like a dress!!)

My problem is that this was made from vintage chenille- see the curly q's? I had to do a LOT of research on ebay, but I finally figured out that comes from a bedspread that sells for $150 on ebay. Ugh. I want cute curtains- but I don't want to start with a piece that I am going to cut up that costs that much!!
So, anyone have any recommendations? Anyone know of a "peacock chenille blanket" that isn't that much??!! I just want the curly q's, and am not sure how to make that happen.

Oh yeah, and does anyone sew? ha, just kidding! I am really great with glue!!

Custom Scrapbooking

Here is a custom scrapbooking page I did for a new baby girl, Preslie. Her mom and dad have three BOYISH boys and after a trying year with medical concerns, they were blessed to have a baby girl!! She told me how blessed they feel and I could tell that their sweet girl was going be be very loved. I did several pages for her, but this is my favorite. Mainly because of the picture from the delivery room. She was only minutes old, and they put on a BIG BOW!! Adorable!

New design

I made an invitation based off this new Valentine card.

I think it turned out cute, although, at the end, I was seeing X's and O's!!

Has anyone noticed the counter at the bottom of the page? The Come Together blog launched almost exactly a month ago, on January 3, and its already had almost 1000 visitors!! Who-hoo!! If you are in the 990-1000 visitor, I would love to see a comment from you and learn where you are from! I have noticed visitors from all over the US, England, Chile, Sweden, Canada, and other far away countries!! CRAZY!! How are you finding little old me in Texas?!? Whether you are a Texan, American, or Worldian, I am glad you are here!!

Happy Super Bowl

Isn't Super Bowl Sunday fun?! It is the only "unofficial holiday" that everyone celebrates, whether they like football or not.

Are you a commercial lover? I have never really understood this phenomenon. Why does everyone get so excited about the things that keep us from the reason we are watching in the first place? I mean, these are the things we usually fast-forward through when watching any other show. And now we are excited to see how advisers are paying millions of dollars so we will remember, talk about and buy their product. I just don't see the allure. But, that is what makes me weird, I think, b/c the rest of the nation talks about the commercials more than the game.

Personally, I get more excited about the half-time show or who sings the national anthem. And there have been some doozies!! Janet Jackson and the "wardrobe malfunction" (which was totally on purpose- who are they kidding!?) and Prince last year and his crazy guitar. I wonder what Tom Petty will do to compete with that!? Hopefully, nothing!! I could use a nice, PG rated Super bowl half-time show.

The real reason I like to watch the Super Bowl is not for the football, commericals, or even the music, but b/c it is a great reason to get together with friends or family! So, I end up sitting with the girls in the corner who don't really even know which teams are playing. I do know Tom Brady, though. Cuteness.

Speaking of cute-- I saw a recipie for potato "pig" skins. They were frozen potato wedge french fries with cheese, bacon and sour cream. Pig skins, like football- isn't that cute!!?

Have a great rest of the weekend and enjoy those commericials. Or don't.