Happy New Year from the Mountains

Do you think New Year's is a little overrated? I mean, call me crazy, but I don't know one person who dresses up to go dancing or goes to a party where everybody kisses at the stroke of midnight. Do you? Everyone I know just watches some boring countdown on tv and watches the ball drop, which is especially anti-climatic b/c it is always an hour before midnight due to the time difference. Do you do anything more fun? I feel like I should be having more fun every year, but I have no idea what to do!? All the fancy parties don't really sound fun to me, anyway...If you know of a good tradition, do share!

We are spending this New Year's with my in laws in Colorado. It has been really restful so far, and nice to get away from my to-do list! Although, I do have a hard time in a town with no Hobby Lobby and a theatre that shows one movie at a time. I mean, I like mountains, and all, but I have standards!! :)

We went to the little town square today and I found some great vintage Christmas cards! I am very into vintage anything, so it was fun to find authentic ones with handwritten messages to the friends from back in the day! I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet, but I would like to incorporate some into some new designs. Although, I am trying NOT to add to my to-do list...but I think I just did.

Can you believe Christmas is over? Did it come in a flash and leave for you too? I think, especially since having a baby, time goes faster and faster!

I hope everyone has a very happy New Year's! Eat some black-eyed peas, and if you don't have those, just eat some beans! I will be eating cake b/c that is my food of choice. Cake and Cherry Coke Zero. Yum-- Happy New Year indeed!

Sick at Christmas time

I have been sick a better part of two weeks(!). I keep telling myself that I feel better, then, when I try to get going and mark off one of the many Christmasy projects I have, I sink back on the couch and put it off again. And now I am running out of days to do that, b/c tomorrow is Christmas eve!

But the fact that I am sitting at this computer is a great sign. I am FINISHED with all Christmas orders (must plan better next year- I have a hard time saying "no" to the orders that sneak in late in December!)

But, even though my whole house is sick, we are still so blessed, no? There are so many GOOD things that are going on- health, family and friends- that even if I am sick in bed this year, I am still counting my blessings!

I hope wherever Christmas finds you that you are doing the thing you love the most.

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Story, with bunny as lead

Its not a Merry Christmas until you see "A Christmas Story" ONE more time.
I am sure some cable channel is playing it in marathon form, but here's an alternative!
A 30 second cartoon-- with all the characters played by bunnies.
Random, yes.
Entertaining...oddly enough, yes.

http://www.angryalien.com/aa/xmas_storybuns.asp

A little card-related Christmas trivia....

In 1843, the first Christmas card was printed in England for Sir Henry Cole. He was busy man who wanted to save time in his own Christmas letters, but was also interested in encouraging the expansion of the postal system. 1000 copies of the card were sold at one shilling each. It was not until the 1860s that the production of cards accelerated, with cheaper printing methods. Then in 1870, the Post Office introduced a half penny stamp for sending cards.

Yea for Sir Henry!

Latest off the printer...

Latest Christmas cards that I have been printing....

Christmas tree decorations- homemade or fancy?

This was always a source of interest for me growing up. We had several Christmas trees, some that were fancy and pretty and had glass balls of silver and gold. But I always preferred the tree that had the good stuff on it...pictures of us, ornaments we made in Sunday School class, clay and dough ornaments, none of which matched anything else.

Now, my husband would say that my Christmas style is "Christmas Whimsy". That's what he calls the pink and bright green and Dr. Seussy looking stuff that I lean towards-- at least for some parts of my house! Like, right now in my girly office, I am looking at a hot pink tree made out of feathers, like a boa, and a sparkly purple tree that is so bright it almost hurts my eyes! I try to tone it down in the other parts of the house because I live with 2 boys.

Which kind of tree do your prefer? Do you like the tree that matches and has a theme, or one that is more mismatched and has memories? I don't think one is better than the other- and maybe you can combine them both?
I thought it would be fun- if anyone has pictures of their trees and emails them to me- I could post the different looks that people have. Its fun to see how other's decorate, wouldn't you agree?
So take a picture and email me...courtney@cometogethercards.com!

Scared of Santa

I was so excited to be a mom last Christmas, because it was the first Christmas when my son was not a newborn infant. He was born only a couple of weeks before Christmas, so when last year, he was one, he was just the perfect age to sit on Santa's lap.


Or so I thought.


This was our Santa picture from last year.





And I know I am not alone. Kids crying hysterically on Santa's lap are one of the most tragic, yet funniest pictures! Almost every mom I know has one, unless their kids fell at some magical stage and missed that stage. So, I was intrigued to read about this new book.





Scared of Santa.





Apparently, the Chicago Tribune held a contest and asked everyone to send in their worst Santa pictures. Some were so funny, they published it.

Before I saw the book, I thought that I could probably compile just as good of a book just by asking some friends. But, when saw the classic creepy Santa and kid's tortured faces, it made me laugh out loud.



You can view some of the pictures here in a condensed format. Pages 30 and 100 have especially creepy Santas, and the kids on page 134 look like they are in a concentration camp rather than at the mall on Santa's lap. Even I would be scared of the hairball on page 220.



So, moms- be at ease. You are not alone. At least your tortured child didn't make it into a book!


Does anyone else have a bad Santa picture?

Newer Christmas Cards

In the business of the season, I can't remember if I have posted these newer Christmas cards. I say Newer b/c I designed them right after the first set, but I didn't post them then. So, have you seen them yet? If not, here they are...
If you have, enjoy them again and again. :)

This is our little nephew as a model for this card- isn't he a doll!? His parents are cute, too-- you can tell by their legs, right?