I was tagged by Jenn to share my thoughts on 2007, feel free to snag this and do it as well!

~ Start Copy ~ Rules :
1. Copy from “Start Copy” until “End of Copy”.
2. Before “End of Copy”, share your best memories of 2007 include your name and your URL blog.
3. Share this tag to your friends.

For me, the year 2007 had a lot of happiness (and hope for 2008). Happiness because i see my son, grow and grow day by day. I have a great husband. I met lots of new friends from around the world via blogging ^_^ - Juliana RW

The year 2007 has been a good year for me. Me and my husband had our 10th anniversary, my children are healthy, I got a new great-nephew, and I made a lot of new friends through blogging. ~ Mom Knows Everything

The year 2007, oh wow what a busy year this has been for my family but a lot of great memories. After a fast, busy, hectic long distance move for us we took a much needed summer vacation camping and hanging out on the beach. We had the time of our lives and didn’t want to see it come to an end but it had to and we are looking forward to going back next summer. What a year. My greatest memories are getting to spend this time with my husband and children. And blogging I can’t forget all the great friends I’ve made. I couldn’t ask for anything more. :0) Rantings of a Woman and Jabber Jaws

My best memories of 2007? I have so many. My kids are healthy, my boob isn’t full of cancer, my husband loves me, I love him, we are happy. I started this little blog I didn’t think anyone would read, through which I’ve made the most amazing friends. I have gotten to know my sis~in~law better, I’ve watched my niece and nephew born last year have their first birthdays. I gotta tell you, there is nothing sweeter than a baby’s first year of life. I am thankful that I was close enough to see carson often, and be a part of his life. I wish the same was true for all my nephews and my niece, but distance makes it impossible. I am blessed with an amazing family. I hope 2008 is as good a year, if not better. ~ enjoying the ride~

Every year, as the holidays approach and things get hectic (and to be honest, a little depressing) I look forward to the new year with hope that it will be better than the year before.  I get a little caught up in the stress to really look back and enjoy what I’ve experienced.  This year though, I’m grateful for many things.  This is our first year that we haven’t had to make a house payment.  The first year that we’ve not had to have a roommate to survive.  The first year that I’ve realised the importance of living for yourself and your loved ones instead of for everyone else.  I learned new crafts, started a new blog and met new people.  We got a new puppy who thinks the sun and moon lie in our ability to throw a ball.  I came to terms with some nasty childhood anger.  I learned once again that my husband will stand by me no matter what!  I grew.  This was a great year, and I’m going to be a little sad to leave it.  Christine, the Chaotic Crafter

~ End of Copy ~

I’m a little disappointed in myself for not getting my ornaments done.  I’m such a stickler when I make a promise to myself and I feel guilty for not doing what I said every single day.  I’m trying to give myself a little slack though because really…what’s going to happen if I don’t reach my goal?  It’s hardly the end of the world.

However!  Just because I’m promising that I won’t beat myself up doesn’t mean I’m throwing in the towel!  I like having personal goals and challenges, it keeps me motivated!  So, even though I haven’t had anything to show for the last couple of days (except a really great visit with a friend!) I’ll be trying to catch up over the weekend.  If I don’t, then I’ll get over it.  I’m going to try though.

Our visit with out out-of-town guest was really great.  It was quick and felt like a blur, but it was so much fun.  We visited and ate pizza and played video games and caught up on the last year.  Moxie and Snitch got along famously and poor Mox was so sad when they left.  I felt guilty!  She’s back to her old self today but I was really worried about my moping pup last night!

The hubbin’ is out Christmas shopping right now and that gives me some time to work on a few things as well.  I’ve got most everything done now except something for my father in law (I’m STILL contemplating) a few bath cloths for a friend,  a small handbag for my mom.  I *think* that’s all, but I’m sure I’ve forgotten something or someone and will be going crazy two days before Christmas.  Ugh.  I love the challenge of getting things done by a certain time but I never start soon enough.  You’d think I’d have learned this by now!

I may or may not post this weekend, depending on whether or not I get my ornaments done.  I may take a whole afternoon to catch up and do a mass post of them.  I’ll have to wait and see.

I found a couple of Christmas quizzes on Tickle.com and thought I’d share the results. I think I could totally pull off a Mrs. Claus costume lol!

  What’s Your Christmas Movie Match?

  My Result: A Charlie Brown Christmas  

There’s no other way to say it: Like your Christmas movie match, you’re still a child at heart. And while growing up isn’t really a terrible thing, you love to relive the days when life was just a little bit simpler. Playful and silly, you don’t sweat the small stuff.

Of course, you can act your age when it’s necessary, but it’s just not all that much fun. So when the work’s over and it’s time to celebrate, don’t be afraid to have a great time. And don’t worry, no one will make fun of your not-so-perfect Christmas tree. We think it’s cute!  

  Take this test>  

  Which Christmas Character Are You?

  My Result: Mrs. Claus  

That’s right — your unwavering support, hospitality, and comforting touch have landed you the important role of Mrs. Claus. You know how to take good cheer and deliver it wherever you go, spreading warmth even on the coldest winter days.

Secretly, we know you’re the one holding Santa’s operation together. It wouldn’t surprise us at all if you were the brains behind the whole organization with your powers of planning. And you know how to keep the peace, too, whether it’s easing the egos of bickering elves or keeping flying reindeer well fed and ready for flight. You do what needs to get done — even if you don’t always get recognized for it. So keep at it, Mrs. Claus! With your hospitality and good-natured ways, this is your season to shine.  

  Take this test>  

I’m not going to get around to doing an ornament today (or tomorrow either most likely) but I’ve not given up the good fight!

A friend of ours from Vegas is coming for a visit tomorrow and I’ve got to finish her gift, like now!  I started it a little whiole ago, but since we’re not going to see her again before Christmas I’ve got to have it done to give to her before she leaves.  I’m doing these fingerless gloves and I think she’ll really like them.  We’re just going to spend the day visiting and catching up, watching Christmas movies and crafting.  She was always my crafting buddy when she was living here and I’ve kind of missed that!  So chances are I WILL do an ornament (or two, or three) tomorrow, but I don’t think I’ll be posting at all until at least Thursday.  I’m especially happy that I’ll finally have someone around that really enjoys celebrating the spirit of Christmas with me.

She’ll also be bringing her dog with her.  Snitch (yes, like the golden snitch from the Harry Potter series) is a sweet dog, but very puppy-like.  I’m really hoping her and Moxie will get along, but I’ll be taking precautions in case they don’t.  Cordova will be so excited to see his old play pal.

Now I’m going to listen to the Stash and Burn podcast, knit like a mad-woman and try to figure out what to take out for dinner.  If I get the chance I’ll post some of the quiz results from the fun quizzes I took last night.

I’m starting to think I need to come up with some blog posts that AREN’T ornaments lol!

This isn’t one of them though.

I’m super busy today so I chose to go with a quick, kinda boring idea.  My best friend is coming over to visit today so I’m in a mad rush to get things cleaned up and spiffified (yeah, I made it up lol) so we can just relax and visit while she’s here.  I haven’t seen her in over two weeks!

I just used floral wire and beads (some of the ones I used for the star I did).  I wound a piece of wire around several different sized crochet hooks so I could get a graduated spiral and then beaded it with what I’d left for a tail.  Easy, quick and meh…not the most impressive but it’s pretty.

For the life of me I couldn’t get a good picture of this ornament on the tree.  So I took a scan of it instead.

It’s technically a star since snowflakes only have six points, but it’s snowflake-like. 

I used a star (snowflake) pattern from this site on a poly binder divider.  It’s a super-thin plastic that I thought would work well for this since I wanted something thin but more durable than paper.  I folded it, traced the pattern and then used an exacto-knife to cut it out.  Then I put it on a towel, covered it with another towel and used my iron to warm it up enough to take out most of the fold-lines.  I brushed it with Mod Podge and then covered it (and by covered I mean made a mountain) with glitter.  I let it dry, tapped off all the excess glitter and poked a hole for a hanger.  Super simple, but impressive when all the lights are behind it making it glitter.

Now I’m working on the dishcloth a week pattern from one of my ravelry groups, and after I’m done with that I need to finish a few spa cloths that I’m making for gifts.  I’ve scrapped the sweater I was making for my friends daughter because for some bizarre reason I’m unable to get the sleeves right on the stupid thing.  I think I may make her some fingerless gloves or something.  Somewhere in there I’ll have to fix a meal for us because you know, food gives energy and I need energy for all this crafting business.

Hope everyone’s weekend has gone good!

There’s a million other things I should be doing right now, but I wanted to pop in and post my 8th ornament.

It’s one of my favorite ornaments so far!  This knitted lace ball is knit flat, seamed, then a balloon is inserted and blown up to stretch the knitting in to a ball after you dip it in to stiffening solution.  When it’s dry, you pop the balloon and you’ve got a delicate air filled lace ball that stands on it’s own.  So pretty!

It’s also my little monster Moxie’s first birthday!  We adopted her this past February and saved her from certain death.  No, really…we found out when we went to the pound that her and her littermates were to be put down the following day.  There’s been a lot of trials and “learning experiences” with her, but she’s a sweety.

My seventh ornament is this wee little sweater!

Isn’t it cute?  I used self striping sock wool so I didn’t have to change out yarn for stripes.  I even made a little hanger for it.  Funny thing is that I wouldn’t hang a hand knit sweater.  Since it’s just for show though it’s super cute!

I’ve got a busy weekend ahead.  I need to do some Christmas shopping and most important, we need to fix the cold water pipe in the kitchen.  We took care of the hot water pipe last month, but this month the cold water pipe is leaking.  Sigh.  The joys of old home ownership.

It’s rainy and grey so I’m planning on enjoying the day inside with lots of yarn, a blanket and a season of nip/tuck.

I forgot that it was Thursday so no Thursday 13 for me.  I can’t think of anything, I’ve got Christmas on the brain!

My ornament muse came early this morning.  This ornament was a mix of an idea I saw on a website with my own personal touch.

I got the idea from this site and added some various beads.  I kind of like the chaos!  I probably could have made it a little neater, but that wouldn’t have been much fun!

Christmas presents are coming…at a snails pace it seems.  I started a pair of fingerless mitts for my father in law and have one of them about 3/4 of the way done.  Ash’s sweater is coming along VERY slowly, mainly due to the fact that I’m tired of cabling and I’m just barely starting the sleeves.  I LOVE the look of cables but don’t particularly enjoy doing them.  You think I would have learned that when I made the Hedgerow coat!

I found out that a friend of ours from Las Vegas is going to be coming to visit sometime in the next couple of weeks.  Because we weren’t expecting any guests I haven’t been bending over backwards cleaning the house…I guess it’s time to start!  It’s mainly clutter that I need to worry about as there seems to be stuff just everywhere.  I’m also wondering when my mother in law is going to finally come over to bake…I’ve been waiting for weeks! 

Busy busy bee.  I think I’m finally starting to feel a little holiday stress lol.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish the knitted ornament I was working on today, so I decided to make a different one.  We won’t talk about the fact that I had to rip the ornament apart because I made a mistake and that’s why I couldn’t finish it today

I found a really pretty cross stitch pattern on about.com and decided to make an ornament out of it.

I used 14 count aida cloth with two strands of embroidery floss.  It went pretty quick and when I was done I cut it smaller and glued it to thick cardstock.  Then I wrapped the excess cloth around the cardstock and after I’d added a dangly tassle and a hanger I glued another piece of cardstock over it all to back it.  Pretty easy!

See my babies in the sidebar?  I used a free site called picnik to Christmas-fy their pictures!  It’s really fun, I suggest you check it out!

While I’m pimping websites, I can’t forget Popular Front: SnowDays.  Every year around this time I visit and make snowflakes!  You can add your name and where you’re from and even a little message for anyone who clicks on it to see.  Later on, even next year, you can do a search and find your old snowflakes!  I found some from three years ago I made