I know, I know...I've been a bad blogger. Maybe my New Year's Resolution should be to blog more on my personal blog. I really enjoy chatting and getting to know everyone and love sharing stories and reading your blogs too. I'm popping in today to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a Very Happy New Year, may 2012 bring you good luck, happiness, love, and everything good that you desire!

I also wanted to mention a post I wrote on All Women Stalk a few weeks ago about a very sweet blogger named Mel aka The Oceanside Bride and her new Etsy shop called Oceanside Designs. On there she sells her handmade photo and print coasters that I just adore! Check out the post and her shop to learn more...oh and take a look at the gorgeous gift she sent me...

LOVE!!!

There are two more but they have my step kids and the bridal party in them (sorry I only post photos of us!). I was so thrilled when Mel told me she wanted to make these and just taken away by their beauty when I saw them in person!

Thought I would add a few more handmade Christmas cards I made too!

The first two were made with my very Best Friend who is a Stampin' Up consultant and the last one I made on my own to send to her!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Coming up next....handmade ornaments!!

Handmade Holiday Cards!

I love going to my best friend's Stampin' Up card work shops, it's a great time getting together to chat, catch up, and do our crafting thing! This month we made a few cards for Thanksgiving and a few for Christmas. I'm so excited for her next card work shop where we'll make even more Christmas cards! Making these cards and thinking about the person receiving them just warms my heart knowing that a handmade gift will make someone's day all the brighter. What handmade crafts do you enjoy during the holiday season?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love the stamp on the inside!

OWLS for Thanksgiving!

A Beautiful Bird and Holly Tree for Christmas!

All Photos Taken By Me!

These were all pretty easy to make, you just need to right tools and you're set! Check out my friends blog and Stampin' Up page for more ideas on other crafts!

Giveaways at All Women Stalk...

We've been so busy at All Women Stalk that I haven't had the chance to update my personal blog and thank everyone for their sweet words about my sister's beautiful beach wedding! It really was a wonderful day. So before I get back into my adventures in NYC with Casie and my mom, I wanted to share with you all of the amazing giveaways we're having at AWS. Right now we are hosting two wonderful Christmas greeting card giveaways, one of them ends tomorrow so hurry on over!

The one ending tomorrow is from Crafted by Lindy and she is giving away a set of her 12 Days of Christmas greeting cards http://lifestyle.allwomenstalk.com/giveaway-contest-days-of-christmas-greeting-card-set/

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The 2nd one is from The Spotted Olive™ and she is giving away two sets of her Retro Modern Christmas Ornaments Greeting Cards, this giveaway just started today and you have until next Monday! http://lifestyle.allwomenstalk.com/giveaway-contest-retro-modern-holiday-ornaments-christmas-cards/

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We also have this beautiful pink jersey robe from Underwear that we are giving away...I think it would be wonderful for a romantic honeymoon! http://fashion.allwomenstalk.com/giveaway-contest-underwear-goddess-robe/

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Are you getting into the Christmas spirit yet? Right now I am actually listening to Christmas music...don't hate me!

PS wanted to share a photo of my homemade Christmas card I made with my best friend this weekend...

Sorry about the quality...I took the photo with my phone to send to my stepdaughters while I was out of town at my friend's house. We always have a great time getting together, making cards, scrapbooking, eating too much food, catching up, and spending time with her family. Her little girl is so adorable, she asked me to paint her nails and when I was done she asked me if I wanted her to paint my nails! I said, "No thank you." So she said, "Are you going to change your mind?" How could I say no to an adorable three year old who says that!

Sneak Peek... My Sister's Wedding Day!

My sister's wedding day was gorgeous....the sun came out, the sky was clear, the bride was gorgeous, and the details were beautiful....

Beaches of OBX!

                                 

Here Comes the Bride!

                                                         

The Ceremony (My Dad Giving Her Away!)

I Do!

Here we are!

Photo Booth Fun!

                                                  

Gorgeous Sunset!

Her wedding was on the beaches of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The drive may have been long, but it was a wonderful day and I'm so very happy for my sister and her husband. At night before we left the house they rented to go back to our hotel, wild horses walked right up to their front door!

 

All photos taken by me! Congrats Jenn & Kevin!

Still here...with a little post for my sister!

I know I've been a little MIA on my personal blog...I'm so sorry readers, you have been so sweet and wrote such wonderful comments on my NYC posts, that I still have to continue. Okay did I just make that one sentence?! I have even seen some new names in the comments, thank you!! I will get back to you all and update my NYC post, I promise!! I'm hoping to update it sometime tomorrow. But right now I'm going to interrupt our scheduled program because...guess what everyone...this weekend my older sister is getting married!!! I'm so happy and excited for her! She's getting married on the beach...it's going to be so beautiful, and she's going to be one gorgeous bride! Congratulations to my sister Jennifer and her husband-2-be Kevin...

Here we are when we were about 5 and 2....

And here we are last year at my wedding!!

I love you sis, I'm so proud of you and I'm so happy for you. I see a bright and happy future for you both. Congrats to you and your husband-2-be!!

Loving New York...

More good times in NYC....I really could go there every weekend and probably see something new every time! I bet people that live in the city have more to see. I still haven't tried Pizza in New York...any comments on where the best place for pizza is? There are also so many more bloggers that I would love to meet who live in NYC...you know who you are! Some day I hope to meet so many of you that are truly amazing and so wonderful. Okay...on to the photos!

This whole window was filled with Pizza...what great free advertisement for your shop!

Here's Barbie on the back of the double decker bus for FNO!

Loved this window art...not sure what building or where in NYC this was...were were on our way from Penn Station to Central Park though!

I love the mix of Old and New, here on the left is the old NYC...

And on the right is this New looking building that looks like it should be in LA!

Taking the Subway! I've been on the EL and the subway in Philly but never in NYC!

How adorable are these little guys...and what a great way to dress up the subway station!

On our way to the World Trade Center...

Continue Reading...

New York City!!

I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting one of my favorite bloggers, Casie, who is also an amazing photographer, while she was in NJ for a visit with her family and to photograph a wedding! We met up in NYC since she was close by and it was easier for me to take the train there than to get lost driving to NJ. This was actually my first meet up with a blogger and I was a little nervous. First because I may be one person to you online, but maybe in person you will think different of me, and 2nd well you hope you are meeting the person they say they are, but you just never know!! I was hoping to travel with my best friend but she was unable to go since she has a new teaching job...congrats Becky! So I was grateful that my mom wanted to come along and I'm really glad she did, it was a great day filled with wonderful memories.

...I knew Casie would be awesome because she just comes across so cool, open, friendly, and easy going online and that's exactly who she is in person. I on the other hand may have been a little nervous and kept fidgeting around too much! But after lunch and walking to Central Park...my first time there....I would like to think I got better control of myself! She was so nice and so great to show us around places of NYC that I've never been to. Usually when I go with my husband or my mom we see Broadway shows and stay around Times Square. But this was an amazing adventure around the city eating lunch at an Irish Pub, going to the park, taking the NYC subway for the first time, seeing the beautiful and rising Freedom Tower and 9/11 memorial, and eating Korean food in K-Town thanks to the recommendations of Big Apple Nosh!


  First up was lunch at Tir Na Nog...meaning "Land of the Young"

The restaurant's decor and ambiance gave you that feeling like you were in Ireland...

My mom sat in the cool antique looking chairs!

Me and Casie!

I asked if they had Irish Coffee! I meant to ask what's in it! LOL!

Continue for more pictures...

10 Years Later: Keep Rising and Keep Remembering 9/11

Bridal Giveaway...

What can I say...we are just feeling the love at All Women Stalk! We have a lovely, just beautiful bridal giveaway going on over at our Wedding blog...so all my bride friends and readers head on over for your chance to win....

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I saw these amazing bridal hangers while we were planning our wedding but never really put much thought into it...but now I want one that says Mrs. Trotter!! Thank you to the sweet Meghan at Noce Etsy shop for giving the chance to one of our lucky readers to win a custom bridal hanger!! What would yours say and did you buy one when you were planning your wedding?

Baby Giveaway!

I told you we had another wonderful giveaway coming up today! I am just so grateful for all of these lovely Etsy shops and I really love getting to know them. It's amazing the people from around the world you get to meet! So are you a mommy or in need of a cute baby shower gift for a little one?

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Isn't this handmade knit bear hat so adorable!! I just love it and how sweet is the sleeping baby! Dianira Soto from Kids' Precious Couture is giving one lucky All Women Stalk reader the chance to win this baby knit hat. So head on over and leave a comment to enter!

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend, we might be going to a bbq not sure. But if not we'll be relaxing on our new deck...LOVE sitting out there at night time now that it's getting cool out! Enjoy your weekend and get away from the computer bloggers!! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! ;)

Giveaways on AllWomenStalk!

It's been such a great week and today and tomorrow we have such adorable giveaways over on All Women Stalk...and next week we may have another!  Thank you to all of the wonderful Etsy shops and other vendors who have given us such great things for giveaways! Also I want to thank Shawna from Poppies and Sunshine, I won her first ever giveaway from Rambles with Reese! So are you ready for this sweet little giveaway...

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How amazing are these handmade rubber stamps! They are from the wonderful Olga at Etsy shop, Cupcake Tree! If you know me, you know I love scrapbooking and just got into cardmaking. These would even be really cute for weddings and Thank You cards!

So head on over to All Women Stalk, leave a comment and maybe you will be the lucky winner next Thursday!

Stop on by the Parent blog of All Women Stalk tomorrow if you have a little one for our other sweet giveaway!

Plus one of our writers has put together a great dating book and is giving a book away to a reader!