:{ Coninuation of the Sunny-Side Up Posts }:

Kay, so I haven’t been blogging nearly as much lately and I’d really like to get back to writing more often. Problem is the past few months have been rather difficult ones for me and quite honestly I hope to forget them someday so having them memorialized on a blog just isn’t something I want to do. Thus, the ‘sunny-side up’ posts. So, I think I’ll just start a ‘sunny-side up’ series so that I can remind myself that in the most difficult times (and there are certainly people going through more difficult things than myself) that I do have things to be thankful for and blessings to count.

Recent blessings:

The sweetest most thoughtful secret santa gifts from the beautiful Kim (aka OliveJuice). Digital gift certificates to some of my favorite online stores, a certificate to Itunes ‘cuz she knows how much I love music, a beautiful Christmas shopping list to print out which I loved so much that I think I’m going to start printing weekly shopping lists that are pretty to look at. :) And then in 2 separate packages I received this GORGEOUS crochet hook holder with the most plush pretty blue velvet interior and another amazing floral fabric on the outside that I’m thinking would make a great spring bag. Incredibly thoughtful and so beautifully made. And the second package was the cutest cupcake pin cushion. I had actually seen these online and passed on buying it for myself at the time but had just recently been thinking how badly I needed a new pin cushion with no idea how to find these fun one’s back on the www. Apparently someone told Kim about my love for cupcakes and she knew just the perfect gift. Thanks again so much Kim. You’re the best secret santa EVER! :)

And then my sweet friend Jayne just won’t stop sending me packages. Awhile back she sent a care package that was filled with new sewing magazines for my sewing passion, a luggage tag for our upcoming trip to Chicago (although embarassingly I didn’t realize that that’s what it was until I saw one on HER luggage when she arrived LOL), and then a very cool silver bracelet that has engraved on it "a friend might well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature" AND a funky chunky colored glass ring that is sooo me. And just last week I get this package for Christmas with a pendant I know she picked out just for me at this time.

I LOVE these soldered pendants and have actually been collecting supplies to make them but they intimidate me and I’ve never tried soldering before so the idea of burning myself or permanently engraving myself with hot metal scares me a bit. 

Anyway, I wanted to acknowledge these sweet gifts and also the friendships that mean so much to me. I take them for granted more than I should. Leeandra, your random text messages checking in always brighten my day and I’m saving the Christmas card you sent because the saying on the front is begging to be included on a future Christmas LO. :)

Kay, I know it’s been like months since I talked about posting a list of my tags in ACDSee and how I use the program. Is anyone still interested in that info or are all of you already using the software and loving it? I promise if there’s still interest I will put together a post by the end of the week.

I’ve been doing pretty good on my to-do list so far. I need to work on getting in the pilates workouts and my creativity seems to be on a permanent hiatus as far as scrapping goes so I’ve been reading Living Artfully and included a quote from the book for my January desktop as a reminder to do whatever it takes to find that creativity back. 

Rather stressful day and week ahead but my goal is to keep up with the ‘sunny-side up’ posts to give life some balance.   

Oh, and I almost forgot, I was up late last night marking down the remaining bags in the boutique 25%! First come-first serve so email me (srostrowski@hotmail.com) with the name of the bag you’re interested in and I’ll send out an invoice and request for shipping info to get it out to you right away. Some of my favorite designs are still available and if I get some time and some sunlight hours at home to take pictures in the next day or so there may be a couple more added at the close-out prices so keep checking back. We wanna make room for some new designs we’re working on for the new year and we’ve also been working on more hair accessories (think headbands and cute crocheted flower clips) which were a hit at the last craft show. :)