Heather Ann Melzer

Giving thanks

I just wanted to pop in and say thanks to all of you for reading, sharing your personal stories, offering advice, and for supporting me through all of my endeavors.  I'm so thankful for the intelligent comments, encouraging words, and thoughtfulness of all who stop by here.  This blog has become a lifeline for me and makes me feel connected with so many of you (which truly keeps me sane).

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving today with your families (and then get to bed early so you can be up before the roosters shopping with me ;) 

I heard someone describe Thanksgiving as a true comfort holiday, and I couldn't agree more.  What could be better than eating tons of yummy food and then vegging on the couch with a pile of sale papers while the kids run circles around you?  I just hope Tom returns from his football game this morning without any broken bones.  (The ER is not my idea of comfort ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Heather

Holiday inspiration has arrived

My very talented design team is hard at work creating amazing projects to inspire you this holiday season.  We'll be showcasing one new project/day through the end of the year and posting them on our new Shutterfly Share site!  Check it out to see this week's first two projects.

My first share is my recipe album - ready for printing in Shutterfly 8x8 book form.

I also created a customizable Recipe Album Cover that you can download for FREE by clicking here.  It includes one .jpeg file and one .png file that you can add a photo to.  I increased the opacity on the pic of my potato chip crusted chicken tenders before adding to the cover page.  The covers are Shutterfly-ready, so just add your pic and upload.  I can't wait to see my finished book in person - it's already making me want to cook again!

Let's see... what else, what else.  SO much going on.  My head is truly spinning this week.  I'm making jewelry like a madwoman and will have some very fun new pieces up very soon.  My nephew, Dylan, has also been hanging out with me in the afternoons, since his school let out early yesterday/today.  I dragged him to Michaels yesterday and then to Starbucks/Subway.  He's 11 now and in Middle School, so he had all sorts of interesting things to talk about (and he ordered a Frappuccino!).  He also wants shoes for xmas - wow, how things change.

We had a really fun weekend.  Tom's brother, Mike, invited us to the circus on Saturday night.  His law firm has a box at the United Center and it was amazing.  The most comfy I've ever been in a stadium like that and the kids were able to roam around without stepping on anyone not related to us, which was heavenly.  Tom's Dad/sister and Mike's girlfriend came along, too, and everyone had a blast.  Tom almost choked on the $24 it cost him for 2 cotton candies, but it's was worth it's weight in gold to the girls.  My favorite is always the elephants...

 

The one time I'm wishing I would have brought my point-and-shoot with the flash (sigh).

And then Tom worked on the basement a little more on Sunday while I beaded and chased kids.  The kids have been playing down in the basement so much and it's still very much a construction zone.  Drywall is extremely cheap right now, so we may get some and start putting it up down here since the lights are just about done.  I've been down here with it unfinished so long that I can't wrap my head around the thought of it ever being done.  Our kids have become insanely loud over the last few months and it would be so nice for them to play down here and be as loud as they want.  Someday.

We also had a movie night a couple of weekends ago that I have yet to post about - will do that tomorrow.

Oh, and I have collected some SUPER FUN donations for the 12 Days of Holiday Cheer event (which starts on Monday).  I'm still accepting donations, so email me if you'd like to participate!

NEW Calendar Toppers are here!

I'm so excited about this year's calendar toppers!  This set includes 12 month pages + an alternate month page and a beautiful cover (with room for 2 of your favorite photos!). 

Each month page has a sweet seasonal/holiday verse that will keep you feeling festive year round!  Pages are sized at a horizontal 8.5x11" and are super easy to put together.  Just drop your photo behind a page, save as a jpeg and upload for printing/delivery!

A little birdie told me that Shutterfly will be offering their calendars "Buy one, get additional calendars 1/2 off" starting Tuesday!  So, get your pages ready!

Here is a link to view each month up close.

Here is a link to a tutorial on how to upload your pages to Shutterfly.

And here is a link to the new topper set, which is being offered at a Special Introductory Price!

I'm going to put together a video tutorial next week on how to customize this set with your photos, for those of you who are still a little bit intimidated by this digi scrapping thing.  I think this is the perfect way way to get your feet wet and I'll show you just how easy it is :)

Enjoy your pre-turkey/shopping weekend!

1, 2, 3, 4...

Starting December 1st it will be giveaway madness here!  I'll be posting a new giveaway every day for the first twelve days of December!  How fun is that?! 

I have lots of goodies lined up and I'm also taking donations.  So, if you're a digital designer, Etsy seller, crafter, etc. and would like to donate something delightful to be given away during the Twelve Days of Holiday Cheer event, please email me and I'll be happy to showcase your item and gift it to a lucky reader :)

AND starting next week, my Design Team and I will be posting inspiring holiday projects every day through the end of the year - just what you need to jumpstart your holiday creative juices! 

I'm still hard at work on Calendar Toppers (which will be up by the end of the day tomorrow!) and I also listed some new Everyday Photo Frame Necklaces in the shop today (whew, those went fast last time!).  I have some AMAZING new jewelry pieces that are on their way to me that I can't wait to play around with as well as a bunch of other digi goodies and Etsy shop items.  It's a good thing I have next week off work - so much to do and it's all stuff I love - can't wait!

2009 Calendar Kit (& FREE mini kits) are here!

That's right - included in the 2009 Calendar Kit are 2 FREE mini kits designed by my buddy Gina and I! 

This the 5th year that we've teamed up for this collaboration and, as always, for each month you get a background, frame(s), elements, moveable titles, a sample page, instructions on how to put your pages together, and how to print/bind them! 

And you can pick up the kit/mini kits at an introductory price through this Friday, the 21st!  So, don't delay!

PS - If you're looking for Calendar Toppers Vol. 2, they're looking super cute :) and will be here by week's end!

Enjoy!

Hidey ho

Hey there!  I'm so sorry I haven't posted this week yet - so unlike me.  I was waiting on our calendars, which we're super close on, but I figured I'd post and then update as soon as we have them live on our sites.

We've been busy over here, for sure.  Jack had his last round of shots last night and he still has a lot of fluid in his ears, so we've been referred to an ENT.  The doctor said it could definitely be affecting his hearing/speech, so we'll see what the specialist has to say in the coming weeks.  Jack has finally started talking a little, though.  He loves to say "NO!" to his sisters and his other favorite is to stick his hand out and say "Stop!"  He's so proud of himself when he communicates - probably because I go berzerk every time he does.  Oh no, I won't be that mom cheering on my little linebacker like a complete maniac 15 years from now - lol.  We all know better than that ;)

We're coming off of a lovely weekend.  Saturday we left the house at 9am and didn't get home until after dinner.  We went out to breakfast, got the boys haircuts, and then shopped around for clothes for my weed-like growing children (Kenzie who has already grown out of the size 6 jeans I JUST bought her and Jack who is now wearing 3T pants for his ever-expanding waistline - sheesh!)  We ended the day with dinner at a McD's that has a giant playland and then we went to our new Nordstrom Rack where I tried on 7 jeans for the first time and really wished I hadn't.  They were so cool looking, but I couldn't justify the $99 price tag.  Maybe if I had somewhere to actually wear them.  They were really long and I'd have to wear heeled boots with them and that only happens about twice a fall/winter so, I put them back and pouted all the way back to the car - lol. 

Sunday we stayed in and Tom and his dad wired can lights in the basement while I hung out with the kids and made some jewelry.  I just finished loading up my shop with some new pieces and I'll be adding to it as the week goes on.

 

The first pic is my Everyday Photo Frame Necklace (that I'm happy to add a photo to and no extra charge).  I can also convert to bxw at request.  Then I have this beautiful new Black Onyx Pendant Necklace, which is a really fun piece, and some new versions of old favorites - Pearl of Wisdom Bracelet and Set and my Silver Lining Bracelet.

I'm also now offering FREE holiday gift wrap with any jewelry purchase and can send directly to a gift recipient with a gift message:

Have you started your shopping yet?  I fear this late Thanksgiving is going to make me wish I had started already.  If only my girls could make up their minds as to what they want.  Kenzie mentioned one of these, but I'm not sure if it would keep her interest.  Anyone with a 5-6 year old that has one?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Working lunch

Gina and I are working feverishly to finish up our 2009 Calendar Kit and we're very, very close!  That alternate July page is one of my favorites :) 

I got my hair done today and picked up some fuel afterwards to help me finish my portion of the calendar - a cold cut combo and a caramel macchiato, 2 of my favorite things.  I usually take 10 minutes to watch a little TLC while I eat, but not today.  Christmas is only 40 days away - crunch time!

We have to take Jack for another round of shots tonight and the girls are also getting their flu shots.  We mentioned it them the other day and they both completely freaked out.  They were so afraid that they could barely sleep.  Kenzie had her kindergarten shot last year and she's scared Katie to death telling her about it.  We haven't told them that they're getting them tonight, and I'm not sure how this is going to go down, but I can't imagine it's going to be pretty.  I'm thinking we either separate them, or have them in the same room and synchronize the shots.  Hopefully the doc has some experience with this - ugh.

Ok, back to work I go - I'll post as soon as the calendars are up!

Bringing Benji Back

Netflix has decided to only send us our 30-40th movies in queue the last week or so, so we ended up with Benji for movie night last Friday.  We're so spoiled by animation and special effects that Tom was not thrilled by this choice at all.  I actually just put it in the queue as a 'maybe some day' choice, since none of us had ever seen it, but we made the most of it.  I used some of that extra Halloween candy (which is almost gone, if you can believe that) and made some Benji treat toppers.  Jack could have cared less who was on the tag, he just wanted the candy OUT! LOL

The 70's music was hilarious.  Katie couldn't resist jumping up in front of the TV to get her groove on, and then Kenzie and dad soon followed.  Jack was attached to my hip in his favorite before bedtime spot on the couch.  He's been laying with me like that since he was born and if someone else is in his spot - hoo boy.  Not a pretty picture.  I've still got a few years of cuddling left, right??

Regarding the movie, it was absolutely the slowest one I've ever seen.  If I had to watch Benji make his lap through town (that lasted 20 minutes each time) one more time I think I would have died.  It was a cute story, but it made us realize how much movies have come since then.  We must be much more impatient than people in the 70's were, because it was downright painful in parts.  The movie topic was concerning, too.  The 2 children in the movie are kidnapped and one of the kidnappers kicks Benji's girlfriend (another dog).  Something I'd rather my kids didn't see.  We we talked through it and all was well, but still - sheesh.

Tom just emailed me to say that Beethoven will be here tomorrow.  I'm running out of dog treat ideas!

Never underestimate

...the power of chocolate.

That was Jack after dinner last night.  He's a true chocoholic like his mama.  I will need to have these kids in serious sports to counter effect the result of their cravings, I think.  They all start to hyperventilate when the see it (not unlike me).

Jack slept in until 10am this morning and is definitely doing better today.  So glad he's getting his rest and starting to recoup.  It's so sad when he isn't his usual self.  I'm just trying to stay on top of things here while I chase him around.  It's a good thing work is slower right now so that I can take some time off to take care of him.  The doc gave him his flu shot the other day, even though he was sick because him getting that now would be really scary, and the girls need to go in for theirs.  Oh, and me, too - uggh.  Tom is still convinced that whatever strain he gets the shot for will be the wrong one, so there's no convincing him.  My last couple of winters have been rough, so I'm not taking the risk this time.

Back to nursemaid duties I go.  I promise to be more exciting real soon.  I have so many things I'm cooking up and I'm definitely getting into the xmas spirit a little early this year.  Against my usual better judgement, I'm even thinking about sneaking a xmas tree into the house soon.  Shhhhh... ;)

For the birds

Being sick is for the birds - just ask Jack.  He's got a double ear infection, pink eye, a nasty cold and he's wheezing again.  He's been on 3 rounds of antibiotics for ear infections this fall and now he's getting shots every 2 days to see if that will finally get rid of them.  He's also getting eye drops twice/day and has to be on the nebulizer 3x/day to help with his breathing.  He's a mess, but surprisingly in pretty good spirits.  I had just put his eye drops in when I took that pic, so he was not a happy camper.

He slept in this morning and is now watching Dora and playing with toys without anyone stealing them away from him.  Amazing how much he babbles when it's just the two of us, too. 

I'm anticipating a long nap from him today, so hopefully I can make some progress on things over here.  I had fun putting together some pieces for my shop last night and have a few pieces in there now, including two Jewel-Toned Silver Beauties, a new slim version of my Cheery Disposition bracelet and a Cheery new set.

Monkey boy is tearing my office apart, so we're going to play upstairs now.  Just wanted to check in and say hi!