Leah Killian is posting a BEAUTIFUL mini-book class on her blog… She designs for Cosmo Cricket and "me Scrapbook Nook, and simply creates BEAUTIFUL work!! I couldn't resist taking a peek at the cover and you just need to go and look at it…

Leah's Mini-Book Class Link

Look at all that gorgeous detail on the cover… Just what I needed… and "excuse" to have to go and buy those pretty papers at Laurie's Store!! I've successfully avoided them until now 'cause I didn't "need" them…

Speaking of Laurie's store… The Scrapbooker's Dream in Tewksbury, MA is having an UNBELIEVABLE sale starting tomorrow… 50% off "almost" everything in the store… AND (this made me almost hyperventilate…) 60% off all in stock Quickutz… OMG.  Check out the details at the site Scrapbooker's Dream 

I have to say, I am a terrible cook!  I used to be a pretty good cook, but being a Mom with an out-of-the-home job has turned me into something entirely different!! I barely have the energy to heat stuff up, nevermind following great recipes!!  So, this year for Thanksgiving, instead of trying to make something clever and being disappointed in how it comes out, I made these adorable (if I do say so myself) little treat boxes for everyone who will be at Thanksgiving, they're filled with candy… I may not be a good cook, but I can craft :) I found the pattern for the little boxes at my favorite inspirational blog Chic-n-Scratch Blog

Here's my Thanksgiving Version… Yup, there's 40 of them :)

That's right… The annual "year in review" photo book is actually FINISHED BEFORE Thanksgiving!!! I am just so pleased with myself!!  I usually don't even start picking pictures until Thanksgiving weekend, so I'm WAY ahead :)  We use Lulu.com for the publishing, so DH will get it ready and uploaded, and just maybe this year we won't need expedited shipping to get them for Christmas :) I don't want to show it off too much 'cause I love for it to be a surprise, But here's the cover… I used goodies by Shabby Princess, the Olivia Collection…

Ever since the election results on Tuesday evening, this song has been stuck in my head!!! My middle school chorus performed it last spring in their concert, and it’s certainly a “catchy” tune, and the lyrics are so fitting right now, I may have to pull it out again this spring!!!

A Brand New Day (from the Wiz)

Everybody look around
‘Cause there’s a reason to rejoice you see
Everybody come out
And let’s commence to singing joyfully
Everybody look up
And feel the hope that we’ve been waiting for

Everybody’s glad
Because our silent fear and dread is gone
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness

Hello world
It’s like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we’d be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we’ve got liberty

It’s such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?

Everybody be glad
Because the sun is shining just for us
Everybody wake up
Into the morning into happiness
Hello world
It’s like a different way of living now
And thank you world
We always knew that we’d be free somehow
In harmony
And show the world that we’ve got liberty

It’s such a change
For us to live so independently
Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully
Just look about
You owe it to yourself to check it out
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?
Can’t you feel a brand new day?

So, today I seriously had a “grace filled moment.” You know, one of those times that makes you just stop and think… I want to be, and try to be a very positive person… my kids at school “complain” all the time that I smile too much, even when I’m mad :) But this afternoon I was running into the grocery store quickly to grab a gallon of milk before I picked up the kids… As I was walking through the parking lot, an older man came out of the store, and saw someone just behind me that he knew… The other man must have made some kind of gesture about the rainy-cruddy weather that has been hanging around for the past 2 days… and the man coming toward me just smiled and said “The sun is out, we just can’t see it”

Oh my goodness!!! That sums up how I want to live my life!!! The sun IS out :) Some days we can see it, and some days we can’t… but it’s always there!!!

There’s my rambling positive thought for today! I have a couple new projects done, I’ll get them posted this week… I hope everyone can see some sun soon!!!!