Exciting News!!!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share some exciting news with you--I've been chosen to design for lizyjose's Etsy shop!  Here is a picture of my design team sign I created using some yummy goodies from her shop.  You can see a video of me sharing how I created this sign on my You Tube channel.  Thanks so much for stopping by & have a wonderful day!!! 
Hugs, Nicole

My You Tube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/papernlace123?feature=mhum

Elizabeth's Etsy Shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lizyjose

Christmas in the Bay Area

Earlier this month I took a day trip with my mom to the Bay Area.  We met with an artist licensing group that she belongs to in Berkley, and afterwards we went to Emeryville to visit our friend Kim who owns a crepe cart on Bay Street.  We of course had to have lunch, so we split a savory Florentine crepe for lunch, and for our dessert crepe we splurged on the Bananas and Nuttella crepe.  Let me just say, they were both scrumptious!  I recommend you visit Crepes a la Carte on Bay Street if you are in the area, and be sure to bring your appetite!  Thanks Mom for a great girls' day out and thank you Kim for a delicious lunch! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

Hugs,
Nicole

Gorgeous mailbox on Bay Street

                                                         
                                     

Great Carolers on Bay Street!

 Crepe Cart!

Yummy Bananas and Nuttela Crepe ;-)

Blog Candy

Just wanted to let you know that  Crafty Kat is celebrating six months of blogging and giving away some yummy blog candy!  Be sure to visit her blog and check it out!  Congratulations Kat on six months of blogging, & thanks for the chance to win this yummy blog candy!

Hugs,
Nicole



http://craftykatdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/woohoo-blog-candy.html

Fall

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year!  It's not too hot, and it's not too cold, it's just right!  We took the family up to Taylor Creek, South Lake Tahoe, CA last weekend for the annual Kokanee Salmon Festival.  Usually when we make the drive up the trees have all turned and it's very colorful.  But I noticed that wasn't the case this time.  It's still a beautiful drive up no matter what the season, I was just expecting to see more colors.  The salmon did not disappoint though.  Every year we try to go and witness this amazing act of survival of a species.  And every year I am sad to see the dead salmon who gave their lives so their young will survive the spring thaw.  This has got to be one of the most amazing examples of parents' dedication.  The male and female salmon literally stay with, and protect their eggs, until they die.  Speaking of parents, we couldn't help but notice the international families who attended this event this year.  One more reminder of how beautiful it is where we live and how amazing this event truly is.  I've been feeling so thankful lately, it's like Thanksgiving already for me!   I hope you are all enjoying your change of seasons no matter where you live and you are all thankful for each and every day.

Take care,
Nicole

Kokanee Salmon in Taylor Creek

Blog Candy Winnings

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a fun blog that belongs to a Close to My Heart independent consultant.  I started following her blog and left a few comments, including one on a "Freebie Friday" post and I was chosen as the lucky winner of a fun book called Reflections.  I realize it's not a new book, but it's new to me, and it's a welcome addition to my scrapbooking library!  I just wanted to say thanks so much again to Shannon Buck at http://stampinbuds.com/ for choosing me as the winner of her blog candy!  Please check out her blog and website: www.stampinbuds.myctmh.com  

Thanks as always to those of you who follow my blog--I hope you are all enjoying the change of seasons!  ;-)

Take care,
Nicole

What's on Your Desk?

I can't believe it's already been almost two weeks since my last blog post!  I have been so busy enjoying summer the days all blend into one.  I have been working on a mini album that I have wanted to make for about two years now.  Nothing like procrastinating.  We were fortunate enough to take our children to see the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco in January of 2010.  The exhibit was amazing!  I will never forget that "once in a lifetime" experience.  So, to remember our trip, I am working on a mini album to place photos and other memorabilia.  Here's what's on my desk!  What's on yours? 

Take care,
Nicole

This will be the front cover of my King Tut mini album.

It's Been a Busy Summer

I have been so busy since May that summer has flown past me.  I had outgrown my scrap space in the house and decided to move back out to my studio loft.  It's a room my husband had built above the garage when we first bought this house ten years ago.  It was originally intended to be my "creative space" but I just never made it out there.  The kids were really little at the time and I just wanted & needed to be inside with everyone else.  But now that the kids are older I am so happy to be back out there.  It's a quiet space without any distractions and I am having fun organizing and finding places for my supplies.  For the past few evenings I have been working on a project that I have wanted to make for a while now.  I completed it last night and still need to take pics and post a vid on my You Tube channel.  Until then have a happy scrappy time! 

;-)  Take care, Nicole

p.s. Thanks so much for following, I am going to try and pay more attention to my blog from now on! ;-)