If Our Tree Could Speak.....

I Hope Everyone had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I borrowed this idea and title from the very talented Nathalie Kalbach's Blog.  Please be sure to go check out her Christmas Tree's story when you are done reading here!

 I LOVE our Christmas Tree, and think it is one of my favorite parts and decorations of the Holiday Season!

Finding just the right Christmas Tree is always a challenge! We in the Caramico household will not settle for just any 'ol tree.  We search and search until we find just the right one - and according to my husband and sons - it has to be the BIGGEST one possible!!  

( I have to be the practical one and have to keep reminding them that the ceiling is only 8ft tall!)

Their criteria is TALL and WIDE  - and I go along with them -because :

1.  I want to make them happy and

2. We've collected so many ornaments over the last 30years - and we need a place to hang them all!! :-)

This year's search was a little early.  We went on the hunt on Nov 25th, so that the tree would be up and decorated by a Holiday Party we had in our home on Dec 8th. We've been able to enjoy the tree's beauty and wonderful smell for the last 3 weeks, and I'm lovin' it!!   

We only went to 2 local places - the first one has been a "first stop" for the last few years - we haven't been lucky finding a tree there - but there are live animals -and my "boys" (23 & 18) insist we visit them!   ( Yes, I did make Baaa.. noises at them and they happily returned the favor!)

There were bunnies in a hutch there too, along with chickens just walking around! But again - no tree to fit the "Caramico Criteria!"

 So - off to our next stop - No animals at this one - but VERY nice trees!!   After talking the boys - well, mostly hubby, out of a tree the would have required a hole cut into the ceiling - we settled on a beautiful one - although they insist it isn't the biggest one we've brought home!  

So - here is our Tree's Story - 

IF OUR TREE COULD SPEAK  - it would tell you ....

...how after being pushed and pulled through the netting contraption ( I have to say - I wasn't sure it was going to make it through....)  we hoisted it up on the roof of the car, and it's trunk showed through the sunroof.  We wanted to make sure it didn't fall off on the way home!

...how we brought it into a nice warm house and let the branches warm up and relax for a few days....

.... how after a few spins - we finally decided what was the front, and lots and lots of colorful lights were added!

Next it would tell you that it was time to hang some special ornaments for this family... (in no particular order!)

One of their first ornaments - I can't believe it has held a place of honor on 29 Christmas Trees before me! 
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This is their FIRST ever White House Ornament, from the early 1990's.  One is added each year and is a special gift from Meem and Pop.  These ornaments were the last ones to be hung on my branches - I'm told that is how it is always done!

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This is a very special ornament - it was their first beloved Portuguese Water Dog - Lily's ornament, and am proud to hold it up high in a place of honor for them.

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There is a new Portuguese Water Dog Puppy in the house!! I have to say - she has been very well behaved and has not bothered me at all!!  This is her special ornament and the 2nd time it has hung on a Christmas Tree!

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Well, it seems that MANY ornaments hanging on my branches have something to do with Coca-Cola - I guess since so many members of this family work for Coke - it is only natural -and their red color scheme helps to make me look even more festive!

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I'm told this red pine cone hung on their 94 year old Grandmother's tree, and is a family treasure!

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It is so hard to imagine that their oldest son Nick is now 23 yrs old. He made an adorable little cherub with a big smile in this ornament made out of a jar lid and some decorations.

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This ceramic baby ornament came from a craft fair and was personalized for their youngest son Jake

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I'm not frightened by this smiling ornament - Jack Skellington, from Disney's Nightmare Before Christmas is a favorite of their youngest son Jake, and can hang from my branches anytime!

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This is one of their first ornaments - it is from their Honeymoon trip to Hawaii, 30 years ago - somehow it no longer says Maui - just Mau - the "i" went missing years ago!

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This ornament came from their 2nd Cruise on board the Disney Magic - sure wish I was on that ship right now!

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Believe it or not - this is actually a hand painted oyster shell from one of their favorite vacation places - Myrtle Beach, SC - so cute!

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Look at this is a special little grouping! Can you see the little house made out of beads on the top left - there are 2 of them on my branches - each son made them in pre-school. They say "Houses are made out of brick and stone.... Homes are made of Love alone."  The beautiful ship in the middle is from their first Disney Cruise on the MAGIC in 2001 with 13 family members. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is on the bottom left of the photo, and was a gift to their oldest son Nick in 2007, when they went to Italy.

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I also have lots of Hallmark ornaments hanging from my branches. I heard the ones from the Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, are some of Nick's favorites - oh look - a Diet Coke can ornament photo bombed this shot! 

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A Walrus on a Christmas Tree? - why not - this guy is cute and makes people smile when they stand in front of me and see him smiling back with that big "toothy" grin!

One of my favorite parts of being a Christmas Tree, is on Christmas Eve, when all of the presents are piled underneath me.  This year, Maggie, the Portuguese Water Dog posed prettily for the picture :-)

And here I am - in all my GLORY - shining brightly out the window and standing proudly, holding so many precious ornaments and helping this family to CHERISH the memories that they bring back to them each year!!

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I hope you and yours had a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY and I send you WISHES for a VERY HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

All the best to you!
((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Happy Holidays!

Hi everyone !


I just wanted to pop in to say that I hope everyone has enjoyed a wonderful holiday and hopefully you were able to spend some special time with your loved ones.

I also wanted to wish you and your families ONLY THE BEST in 2012 - much LOVE, HEALTH and HAPPINESS!

I haven't had a chance to post in a little while - between the holidays and our "new addition!"

You see, I've been a little busy since last Saturday! We brought home a new puppy on the 17th, as our home and hearts were just so empty after loosing our precious Lily in November.

Reel Life's Princess Magdalena of the Sea ~ aka MAGGIE - has found a place in our home, and in our hearts, and is filling our days!

one of her favorite toys

precious sleeping puppy

our curly girl  - right after her bath

the fuzz ball as she was drying

one of her silly sleeping positions

So, if my posts are less frequent - you can see why!   But she is certainly giving me lots of new pictures that I can scrap ~ if I can just find the time! LOL!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  May 2012 be nothing but SPECTACULAR for you!

Sherri

WoW - Where has the year gone?

It is hard to believe that this coming Sunday is ONE YEAR, since I filmed my "Video Debut" for Cheerios, (LOL!)

I was selected to talk about being Heart Healthy, so that I could enjoy my PASSION for something that I LOVE TO DO -- Scrapbooking and Cherishing Memories - of course!


I am very happy with and proud of how the video came out, as it truly captures my feelings for scrapbooking, and the joy I get while I am creating.  Yes, it even features my FAVORITE Scrapbook Store Scrap-a-Doodle Doo and some of my GOOD FRIENDS too!   It was really a GREAT DAY!


I'd like to share my story with you again, on how this came about - you can find that info on my post: LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION  ( just click and it will take you there!)


Also, my Video is now on YouTube, titled Precious Memories - Sherri  ! <<<---CLICK THERE!
No - it hasn't gone viral - YET! But a girl can HOPE can't she! ????  Please feel free to leave a comment BOTH there - and HERE if you "LIKE IT" - and feel free to SHARE it as often as you'd like with your friends too!

 I also made a SCRAPBOOK PAGE  out of photos from filming that day for a TRIFECTA Challenge over at the DESIGN DOLLIES BLOG  take a peak at that if you have a chance too!

I'm looking forward to an ALL DAY crop this weekend, and hanging out with my Scrappy Friends - while creating new projects for future classes!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!

~ Sherri

TIM HOLTZ photo op and a weekend filled with LOTS of Crafty Goodness!

Just a quick note - and update  - with my thoughts on the amazing weekend I just spent with GOOD Friends, meeting NEW Friends, making some CRAFTY GOODNESS, at The Collins Group Trade Show, in Massachusetts!   I had FUN soaking up LOTS of techniques and ideas that I can't wait to SHARE with you at future classes at Scrap-a-Doodle Doo !!

I took so many COOL classes, and have LOTS of projects I can't wait to share with you - but time ran out and I still have to finish a few of them (LOL!!) - So watch for future posts and pictures in the next week or so!

I met the INCREDIBLY Talented CHERYL MEZZETTI and had a BLAST in her class  ( wait until you see pics!! ) and YES, I also met   TIM HOLTZ    of RANGER Ink fame! - and he was kind enough to pose for a picture with me :  ( thanks Tim!)




Ohhhh!!!  CHECK OUT the COOL glimpse of the HOT NEW RANGER Distress Stain samples - just look over my left shoulder at the tags with the adorable dress forms! Let me tell you this "STUFF" is WICKED AWESOME!!! ( sorry the show was very close to BOSTON, and I heard that phrase quite often this weekend!! LOL!)

Here is a picture of the BEAUTIFUL and SUPER COOL GRUNGY canvas project that I made in Tim's Class -  OH THE JOY of painting with RANGER STUDIO Paints and using Claudine Hellmuth Stamps!! Those bright beautiful colors, and whimsical stamp sets, mixed with Tim's vision, gave us the tools to create this AMAZING and FUN project - I could have painted ALL DAY!



Well,  it was a long drive home, and a NON-STOP FUN FILLED WEEKEND!! -- it is time for bed, as I have to go back to "the real world" tomorrow!!

Night all!  ;o)

Sherri

Friday the 13th!

Today is going to be an AWESOME DAY - the begining of a GREAT weekend!

Tonight I am teaching my "Beach in a Bottle" class at Scrap-a-Doodle-Doo!  Can't wait to get CREATIVE!

Tomorrow - is an ALL DAY "Private" Crop with 7 of my Scrap-Buddies - I've got LOTS of things planned!
I will be working on a mixed media album using Sticky-Back Canvas from Ranger, some clear acrylic sheets, and some yummy paper and lots of stuff!  It will be a gift for a long distance friend/coworker who will be getting married later this month!  I hope create the basis for an upcoming class too!

Sunday -- GAME DAY! or should I say night!  We bought tickets to the MET'S Game in the new CITY FIELD - for Phil for Father's Day - I researched games/dates/teams/seats/times - and picked this one that was supposed to start at 1pm on a Sunday - perfect - right?? - WELL - good old ESPN came along and changed it to an 8:30pm game!!! UGH!! - As long as the weather is good - I guess it will be okay - Phil has been dying to go to the new staduim - he even bought me a METs T-Shirt yesterday -and a new jersey for himself ( THANK YOU HONEY!)   I am so looking forward to spending the day with all my "boys" before Nick goes back to school in NH next weekend!

Now to share some "LOVE" - Glimmer Goodness LOVE that is!!  

The beautiful and talented Liz Hicks who works for Tattered Angels - (LUCKY GIRL!! - I wanna be her when I grow up!) - has an AWESOME BLOG - and is holding a FRIDAY the 13th GIVE AWAY of my favorite "ELIXIR of LIFE"  - so HOP on over to her BLOG - take a peek at all of her posts - become a follower and leave a comment about something you would like her to blog about - and you will be entered for your chance to "win" a Glimmery Surprise!

http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/2010/08/friday-13th.html

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!!

Unexpected Finds!

I was blessed to be able to spend a wonderful early birthday weekend get-a-way with my terrific husband Phil, this past weekend, "down the shore" as we say here in New Jersey!  ( Don't most other people / places say "at the beach?") But not in NJ  - we go down the shore - where we have to PAY to get our toes in the sand and in the water??? It has been awhile since I've been to the Jersey shore, and I knew you had to pay to get on -but $7.00 per person/per day?? Does anywhere else in the WORLD charge you to go on the beach and in the ocean???  Just seems strange!

Anyway - we stayed at this cute B&B in Ocean Grove, NJ - our first time ever there.  Well - I read there was a Flea Market schedule for the weekend after we booked our trip - and thought -when we get there, I'll ask the Inn owner where it will be on Saturday.

Much to our surprise - when we arrived at the Inn on Friday  - there were no parking signs in front, and we were only able to unload - but then found a place at the back of the bldg to park.  The Innkeeper told us - that was because the Flea Market would be setting up beginning at 4am the next morning - right across the street from the Inn!

Here are what the grounds across the street from the Inn looked like on Friday -

And here is what we saw when we got up and enjoyed breakfast on the 2nd floor porch -

And - that is just 1/2 of it!  It went on like that - if not more so - up the street to the left of this picture too!

It was funny to see people eating sausage and pepper sandwiches at 9am!

How convenient for us to shop, bring our "loot" back to the Inn, have a cool drink, take a break in the rockers on the shady porch of the Inn, go out shopping again, pick up a fresh squeezed Lemonade and a  Gyro and Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings from a vendor for lunch, bring it back to the porch and eat it while others had to walk around juggling their food and finds! 

Then we went back out for more bargains - like these  -

I am looking forward to doing "something" with the antique printers / typeset tray, I don't know what - but I promise to post whatever I come up with.  They guy had 3 big trays and 2 small ones - and since we were so close - I went back and "made him a deal" towards 3pm - when he was starting to pack up -and ended up taking all 5 of them off his hands by the end of the day!  (Once I posted the pic on Facebook with my "find" my scrapbook friend Lyn asked me to pick one up for here if there were any left - so when I went back - I just bought them all - as "you never know" when you'll see/find them again!! - that's what I told my hubby anyway!)

And I had to buy the other piece - even though the stitched saying isn't old - just made to look that way -

the frame is old, and I really LOVE and Believe in the saying:

RULES FOR LIVING

Be Gracious

Help the Unfortunate

Be Kind

Open Your Heart Freely

Never Speak Mean

Be Humble

And Most Important

Love one Another

All in all - it was a great weekend get-a-way - and some much needed couple time - we are blessed to have such wonderful and trustworthy sons, to be able to go away and leave a 21 and 15 yr old home "alone" (but with Grandma and Grandpa right next door - LOL!)  Lots of shopping, walking, talking, and hand holding - it is great to be able to get to re-connect in this busy and sometimes crazy life we lead.

I am very very grateful!

This week promises to be a busy, but fun one!  I have meeting for Project Graduation -tomorrow at lunch, and Wednesday night after work - Physical Therapy on Thursday, and then I am looking forward to 2 private crops at " MY FAVORITE " local Scrapbook Store - Scrap-a-Doodle-Doo, in Ramsey, NJ, on Friday night ( thanks Joanie!) and I'll be back there on Saturday with some of my other scrap-buddies too (you know who you are! LOL!!!)  Looking to get lots done and samples for 2 more classes ( I hope!)

Stay tuned......

Thanks for reading,

Sher

WOW - I'm a BAD Blogger!

I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since I last blogged -- I'm a slacker I guess - but so much has happened and is going on -- all good stuff!

• I've had two great Hostess Club Meetings!
• Held my first "official" class at Scrap-a-Doodle-Doo
• Held a successful fundraiser for Project Graduation ( stood on a corner for 2 1/2 hrs along with @ 20 other parents and we all collected a record total of over $2100.00 !!)
• Went to a Crazy Fun 50th B'day party for a good friend who surprised us and @ 20 of his other closest friends to a Party Bus trip into NYC with dinner on the bus, and dessert in Little Italy! YUM!
• A Design Team Meeting at Scrap-a-Doodle-Doo -wait until you see the MAY Kit of the Month !!
• Celebrated 34 years of "going with" my WONDERFUL Hubby!
• Mother's Day dinner at Nori's Sushi with Mom, Dad and most of our family
• Food Shopping for my son Nick's return home for the summer from college -- It's not easy shopping Vegan! Takes lots of time and a pair of good reading glasses to read all the labels!!
• Nick came home for the summer!! Can't believe he will be a Senior next year!
• Planning and creating the kits for my "Dream Big" Canvas Class coming up this Friday night at Scrap-a-Doodle-Doo!  ( 7 people are attending!! yea!!)
• Getting ready to ATTEND an all day crop on Saturday!! - Woo Hoo - just have to find the time to decided and pack what I am going to bring to work on!
• Oh - and working full time at my "real" job!

Thank goodness I have an AMAZING Hubby who puts up with all of this!  Phil - you are the best!

I'll try to post again sooner - as I am working on another class I want to teach at Scrap-a-Doodle-Doo using Graphic 45's Boardwalk collection -- OH - and I've been "commissioned" to create a canvas for a friend - with the theme - NEW YORK -- I'm itching to get this one going - lots of cool ideas going on in my head!

Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of your week -and it warms up here a little in NJ!!