from my heart...

from my heart

I wish everyone celebrating the holiday

the merriest, happiest celebration

you could ever imagine!!!!

To all of you that sent me good wishes

to feel better I so appreciate it.

I am on the mend...

Still feeling a bit "foggy"

but oh so much better!!!

I will be celebrating Christmas with my Jewish friends.

We always get together and have a great time.

Again, I hope your holiday is filled with

all the things that make you happy.

Hugs and More,

Peggy

Another Sick Day

The worst migraine of my life

struck me last night

And I had this new medicine to take

It is like an epi pen

And my luck...

I had an allergic reaction...

Michael was ready to take me to the hospital...

But my wonderful Doctor called back

and said do not panic

He prescribed medicine for me take

and it helped...

I felt a little better this morning

Went to work

(because I was out all last week!!!)

But the migraine returned

and I left work early

I am feeling better now...

So much for modern technology...

Hope you are all feeling well

and enjoying the holiday season

Hugs and More,

Peggy

Chanukah 2010

We finally celebrated!

It was well worth the wait!

Everyone had a great time...

Here are just some of the gifts waiting to go into the
family room for opening...

Jared arrived nice and early and it was nice to "visit"
with him alone!!!!
He is the BEST!!!!
The rest of the children arrived around one and while
we were just sitting around we had this
scene on our lawn and across the street...

Ellie always puts a smile on my face...

The girls BEGGED to open one gift so I let them
open today's version of "pop-it" beads
They loved them and this is some of what Ellie made...

Marlie made me a flower ring which I did not take
a picture of, but I still have it on the counter
Rebecca and "Bear" came to visit also

Everyone started arriving so the appetizers started going out...
This is just some of them...

Ellie was in a very silly mood and wanted a tulle ribbon in her hair
which happened to look adorable

Baby Addison arrived and is getting more beautiful

Marlie was playing "cat's cradle" and was very proud

of her "Jewish star"!!!!

Sari, Addison and Jared

Richard and Mindy bought the kids "dance Mickey"

and Jake really loved it

Jared and Addison

Marlie, Jake and Addison

Lighting the Menorah
(yes, Chanukah was officially over, but we saved
candles for this occasion)

Finally it was time to open presents...

Jeffrey loved his Gator Grill cover...

 We also celebrated Noel's and Christine's Birthdays

Making Smores was part of dessert and Marlie got

the Hershey logo on the marshmallow

You can also see the cookie plate in the background

YUMMY!!!

an overall view

Jake had such a good time playing and eating

and after his bath he was tired

night, night Jake!!!!

What a fun guest he is...

Group hug with Jeffrey, Addison and Danielle

Night, Night Addison

All the "guests" left and it was time for US to open our gifts

Marlie and Ellie got to open one gift each before bedtime

They knew they wanted to open their American Girl Doll beds

They were so excited...

Marlie has Lanie and Julie

She already has Lanie's hammock

So she received Julie's bed

Ellie received Rebecca's bed

They were both very happy with their gifts

They would open the rest of their gifts in the morning

It was time for us to open all of our gifts

Danielle and I put on our pajamas as we always do

and we got down to business

We were all like babies and nobody wanted to start

I was very excited for Noel to open his gift

as we combined his Birthday gift with Chanukah

Here is his reaction to his final gift (number eight)

It is an IPAD which he has desperately wanted

HE WAS VERY HAPPY!!!!!

Jared was also very happy

He is moving in February and told us to buy

him NOTHING for Chanukah

but I could not do that

So we bought him things for his new house

and he was very happy also

I did not get pictures of me or Danielle opening our presents

but I promise you we were VERY happy!!!

Michael was also very happy

Here are the girls the next morning

 

Everyone had a fabulous time

It was a wonderful holiday

There was nothing I would redo

My family is incredible...

I love them beyond!!!

I wish I had not been sick this week

but I still managed to pull it off

I will still post more about last weekend's class

I hope all your holiday plans are coming along

Hugs and More

Peggy

Straight to the Kitchen

WHAT A WEEK THIS HAS BEEN!!!

First not feeling good

(which is an understatement)

Then to find out about my ATM fraud!!!

I brought the police report to the bank today -

and they were NOT very nice.

Cannot wait to change banks!!!

AND

tomorrow we are at least twenty for our

Chanukah celebration!!!

I am in cookie withdrawal...

I did not make nearly enough, but I did manage

to make one big basket for a special gift

and 12 small ones for everyone tomorrow!!!!

Never thought it would get done, but it is

AND
I also made TWO mac 'n cheese (the big 9" X 13" size)

AND

a big double recipe of Ravioli Lasagna

AND

got the dressing made for the BLT Chicken Salad

AND

made the dip for the pumpernickel dip

AND

I am about ready to collapse....

AND

I have a class tonight

to attend - not to teach

Which I am really looking forward to

BUT
in all my hustle and bustle today

I NEVER TOOK ANY PICTURES

AND

the camera was sitting right on the counter!!!

So you do not get to see the

98 fabulous chocolate chip cookies...

OR

the 96 incredible white chocolate chip cookies...

OR

the 96 cherry garcia cookies...

OR

the 48 surprise cookies...

OR

the last batch is not even worth mentioning

never making them again

but there were 102 of those...

That is a lot of cookies...

I am looking forward to everyone coming over tomorrow

and then when everyone leaves we

get to do our family gifts

Danielle and I always put on our pajamas

and then everyone opens all their presents.

Marlie and Ellie are usually too tired,

so they will do theirs Sunday morning

(unless they want to stay up late with all of us)

I hope all of your plans are progressing nicely

or if you already celebrated I hope you had

a wonderful time.

There WILL BE PICTURES

from the weekend

and I still have to post last weekend's pictures

from my class...

Until next post

Hugs and More,

Peggy

You Will Not Believe This....

I am alive and kicking...

Still not up to par, but I have to tell you what happened

to me yesterday!

In the morning, for no reason at all, I decided to check

my balance in my checking account

(this is my personal account, not our joint account)

SO GLAD I DID!!!

I discovered I was the victim of ATM FRAUD!!!!

Three (3) withdrawals had been made - each for $503 -

from three different banks in NORTH CAROLINA!!!!

To say I was upset is putting it mildly!

I spent 2 1/2 hours at the bank and the police station

I had to file a police report because it was over

five hundred dollars!!

Can you believe....

There are other ridiculous, aggravating details to the story,

but the bottom line is

No money back for at least ten days while they investigate -

No checking account -

No ATM card!!!!

Moral of the story is...

EVERYONE, go online and check your account at least once

or twice a week.

Look for anything suspicious and REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY.

I will keep you posted on what happens...

I will be back to blogging eventually.

I have been doing reverb10, but not posting it

A lot of it got way too personal (LOL)!

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday season

Stay well!

Stay healthy!

Stay safe!

Hugs and More,

Peggy

Out Sick!

Hi all!

Have not been blogging because I have literally

been in bed since Saturday night!

Hope to be back tomorrow or Thursday!!

Hugs and More,

Peggy

reverb10 - day eleven

Prompt: 11 Things. What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

This is not such an easy prompt today!!

Here goes -
Eleven things my life does not need in 2011!
1.  Stress
2.  Anger
3.  Jealousy
4.  Pressure
5.  Unhealthy eating
6.  Disappointment
7.  Sadness
8.  Guilt
9.  Insecurity
10.  Lying
11.  Anxiety

I will go about eliminating these things by living my
life the way I have been trying to this past year.
Filled with people that truly care about me and vice versa!
Friends that are true to who I am!
I will try to get back on track eating healthy and enjoying it!
There will be situations I cannot control but I will
try and handle them with dignity and intelligence.

If I can live my life this way, then I will have
less stress, guilt, anxiety and all of the emotions
I do not want...
This will cause my life to be at peace, happy, content and
fulfilled.

Hugs and More,
Peggy

Tim's Tags - Day Eleven

With only one more day to go,

Tim does not disappoint...

Here is Tim's tag...

and here is my tag...

I did not make my "own" stamp

I used my argyle foam stamp

I will make lots of stamps from my dies in the future

I did not have the foam on hand

I love this tag also

Hope you are enjoying
"MY" twelve days of tags...

Have a great weekend

Off to teach this morning at scrappers cove...

Hugs and More,

Peggy

reverb10 - day ten

Prompt: Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

The wisest decision I made this year was

to be true to myself.

I played it out by realizing who my true friends

really are and making sure

I would be with people who made me happy

This decision has been so gratifying...

I also played this out by celebrating turning "60"

with all those near and dear to me

and in many different ways

I was so lucky to have so many celebrations...

Hugs and More,

Peggy

Tim's Tags - Day Ten

It is really hard to believe there are only

two more tags left to do...

It was fun

This is not my favorite tag, although I do love

the technique of cutting out "recycled" plastic

and embossing it...

Here is Tim's tag #10

and here is my version...

there is a reflection on the bottom right -

and you cannot really see the flower on the branch too well,

but now that I look at it again

I do like it...

Enjoy Friday!!!

Hugs and More,

Peggy

New York, New York

I was in New York today and decided to stay for awhile

and take a nice long walk and

take some pictures of all the windows.

Who knew it would feel like 20 below!!!

I do not remember being this cold in a very long time!!

Also, I have never taken pictures in the morning and

I discovered that the lighting was awful,

the shadows were looming everywhere,

so forgive me for the quality

It was not just the photographer (me)

or the camera

 (I think there might be a new one when I open my Chanukah gifts!)

There is definitely something to be said for "timing"!!

But, in any case, I do hope you enjoy them.

Some of the pictures actually look awesome with

the reflection of the buildings

Here is my take on the windows...

Barney's windows are MUCH better than last year,

NOTHING could top Bergdorf from last year,

Saks was nice

Mackenzie Childs is always awe-inspiring

The rest is...you will see...

So here goes

(and I will not bore you with all 150 pictures)

Before I get to the windows, this statue was right

outside where my appointment was in the morning

East 34th Street between Third and Lex...

For those of you that have been to the Sculpture Gardens

in New Jersey you will be familiar with the name

Seward Johnson... (of Johnson & Johnson fame)

This statue is by him and I have walked past it

hundreds of times...

Today I photographed it and the plaque...

This guy really gets around!!

My first stop was Barney's and I must say they are
"back on track"
Last year was a huge disappointment...
The theme this year is "FOOD"!!!!!

Mario Batalli and his "crocs" really cracked me up...

One of the best parts of living near New York is being able to
experience the Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows in person. 

 Each year, the senior director of visual presentation, David Hoey,

 and his staff create windows full of pure fantasy and over the top glamour. 

The theme this season is traveling which includes a winged horse

and flying carriage, as well as a silver space ship, listing boat,

and scarlet train. 

You really have to stand in front of them and marvel at all the details.

I hope my pictures do them a little justice...

 

I could go on and on but I think you get the feel...

My most favorite store always is...

Mackenzie Childs

and they did not disappoint this year...

this is truly a work of art...

with a price tag to match...

are you sitting down?!?!

$9,500!!!!

What!  That is NOT a typo!!!

You have to see it to believe it...

and their tree is always incredible...

close ups of the tree...

the only thing that could improve this wreath

is "PINK" ribbons...

and what about these "muffin tins"

(now I am really happy that my February project

uses vintage muffin tins...)

and this wall is just adorable...

this is what they show coming out of the oven...

just a little more eye candy...

do you see what I see???

that is ribbon "for sale"

but at $60 a roll even I said "NO"!!!!

and maybe I can make this frame from my

broken pieces I have been saving...

or maybe just my "prima" stash...LOL!!!

After Mackenzie I walked over to...

they had some gorgeous paper sculptures adorning

their windows and jewelry...

this sculpture turned and this was on the other side...

Bendel's windows were lovely...

can somebody explain this one to me...

Tommy Hilfiger had an amazing bow...

Fendi was all decked out...

Cartier is always the same but never disappoints...

St Patrick's Cathedral in all its splendor

(without the scaffolding!)

Cole Haan windows were definitely some of my favorites...

there was also "joy" and "hope"

The "tree" really needs to be seen and photographed

at night...but it is a beauty...

this is the theme for Saks windows...

Annabelle was in every window...

these were moving bookcases...

and this speaks for itself...

the beauty and texture of this window

by "Benetton" have to be seen in person...

this is a view of the Empire State Building as I

was walking down Fifth Avenue...

Bryant Park Shops never disappoint, but I was so COLD

I could not wait to get on the bus home...

I hope you enjoyed this little "tour"

and again, I apologize for the clarity of some of the pictures.

But this does give you some feeling for

the splendor of New York at holiday time.

Have a great night

Hugs and More,

Peggy