Holiday Wreath-My Front Door

Just a short post today. 

I finally dove head first into a mesh ribbon wreath. It seems like they have been around for ages now, but I am always a little slow on hot trends...I have to make sure they're going to stick around before I jump on the bandwagon:o)

I am really excited about this wreath, and I loved how easy it was to put together. My "W" looks right at home in the middle:o)

I hope you all are having a great Thursday! I'll see you soon!

Remember to come back and check out the Dollar Store Christmas Crafts next week!!

Participating in:
the CSI's Christmas Wreath Challenge

Missed Ben Rabidoux's talk

tonight due to work commitments.

Those who attended, please give us a summary of his presentation and any comments on the questions/answers afterwards. 

Thanks

My Home for the Holidays-Part 1

Finally...

I am finally sharing my Christmas decor with you all...about time, isn't it?

Today you get to see my living room.

There are 6 other rooms to see, so I decided to spread them out in different posts. 

Things are much the same as last year, but for those of you who are new here, it will be your first time to see it.

 We have 9 foot ceilings, so I get to have a gi-normous tree:o) Our tree was a craigslist purchase about 2 years ago, and I am so glad that I found it. 

Filling it up has been a task, but thankfully, my mother purchased most of the ornaments:o) She bought them for herself, but they didn't work with her decor, so I gladly took them off of her hands!!

The wreaths on the tree were made from the hubs' grandfather's old hymnals...so they're extra special:o)

 The Hob was out of the ribbon I have on the mantle, so I had to settle for this really cool ribbon. It was in the ribbon section, where as the other was in the floral section. It took two rolls to fill the length of my entertainment center.

 Here are some pillows I made the other day. 

They were place mats in their former existence. I purchased them at Kohl's when they had all of their holiday wares 80% off. I am not usually a big fan of deer decor...tends to put off a tad bit of the red-neck vibe here in the South...nothing against red-necks..I'm just not one:o)

I felt like these were Christmas-y enough, though:o)

 We currently have a new guest in our home. I would like for you all to meet Snarf.

 Yep, that's what the kids named him. It took some convincing, but I think they are both on board....the 4 year old more so than the 6 year old. It's been fun to get them to hunt for Snarf in the mornings. 

S.R. lights up when she sees him every morning. We have the Elf on the Shelf movie coming in the mail, so it'll be fun to see their reaction to that.

We are having TONS of fun with our Christmas crafts this week. I am really excited about showing them off next week during the Dollar Store Christmas Craft Week.

I have lots more trees to share, so stay tuned!

A small bone for the bears

OK so sales have been pretty strong and inventory is going into the pre-Christmas decline and bears everywhere are growling. 

Was that it? Where is the new strength coming from? 

I am not sure. Maybe there has been some loosening by the banks and the economic numbers out of China have reversed the year-long decline and have started to move up and there is more optimism out of the US too with firming of housing there..

Maybe these are all playing into it.

On top of all that, we have lost Carney and the next B of C Governor may turn out to be a complete Greenspan clone pumping gas for the speculators..

Here is a small bone. We have long been compared to San Diego. We are both on the Ocean, are scenic and have both attracted a large number of Eastern retirees.

San Diego was rock solid while RE in the rest of the US fell. So solid in fact that many said it was destined to hold it's ground and not drop. But when it did budge, it sure budged...

http://www.housingviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/SanDiegoChart-940x511.jpg

Christmas Mantle

I wish I had pictures of my trees, but I don't...by the time I got around to taking them, the lighting was bad. Today is an overcast, dreary day, which is terrible for taking indoor pictures. So, my dear friends, you will have to wait a little longer..sorry!

I did get some pictures of my mantle, though.

This is the after:

This was the before...sad, skinny little garland. I know it's hard to believe, but that is two strands of garland wrapped around one another. Those things are so skimpy. I was bored to tears with my mantle. Just plain ole bored. I have always wanted to have live garland, but after checking online, I realized that it is truly more trouble than it's worth. So off to the Hob I went.

I purchased 6 pine cone picks. They are always 50% off, so they were $2 each. I also picked up some really pretty burlap ribbon...

(I am going back for more today so that I can wrap the garland on my entertainment center. It looks out of place since the one on the fireplace is so fancy now:o)

I fluffed the picks, and spread them out over the mantle. I made a huge bow out of the burlap ribbon, and attached it with floral wire. Then I took the remainder of the ribbon and ran it up down and around the garland.

 No more boring mantle. By adding just a few picks and some ribbon, I completely transformed my puny little garland:o)

 Love:o)

Next week I will be sharing a different craft each day where all items to make the craft are either from the Dollar Store or they are $1 or less. I'm so excited! The kids are having so much fun with this!! I hope you'll join us. At the end of the week, I'll host a Linky Party so that you all can share what you have been working on for the Holidays as well.

Carney goes...what now?

What should we expect from Carney's departure to London and is his reputation for 'saving Canada' from the worst of the Financial mess deserved?

He came to the B of C in October 2007 from Goldman Sachs, in the midst of the Bear Sterns collapse which ended with it's tax-payer subsidized sale to JPMorgan. A bad time to take the reigns that's for certain. Did he call for tighter scrutiny of the investment cartel? I don't recall such.

Of course Goldman Sachs has a very poor reputation for honesty which is well outlined by Matt Taibbi's excellent articles in Rolling Stones.

When Lehman collapsed and the US Federal Reserve cut rates aggressively, Carney followed along with every other Central Banker in cutting rates and setting off other speculative imbalances. One of these was our own housing bubble, which was starting to correct in 2008/2009.

House prices stopped dropping and instead took flight as a result of the lower interest rates and of the Federal Government doubling the CMHC lending capacity. Who knows which had a bigger effect, but they both added kindling to the fire. In Vancouver and Toronto, we also had the influx of Chinese money. China had embarked on it's own big program of spending to ward off a slow-down.

Much of this money found it's way into the hands of a few thousand well-connected individuals and from them into Vancouver and Toronto real estate.

Carney was pretty much silent on this build up as far as I recall. The solidity of the banks is a given once rates to depositors are near zero, and where all risky loans are pre-packaged and passed on to the tax-payer.

I do not recall Carney commenting on the huge future liability to tax-payers incurred by the ruinous actions of the CMHC.

Finally, approximately two years ago, Carney started to make comments about the growing consumer debt mountain. He kept reminding us that rates would not remain so low for much longer, but then did not really raise rates aggressively enough to put fear into borrowers. Of course he is in a bind since the rate set by the B of C is used both for businesses (which he wants to benefit from low rates) and consumers (whom he wants to exercise restraint!)

Those consumers that did follow his advice may have better balance sheets, but found themselves increasing priced out of RE by those who did not.

Finally Carney became more strident about debt and came out with out-right dire warnings, which I believe did start the process of bringing consumers to their senses, since banks certainly have shown no restraint in their lending.

I also believe his hectoring on debt also dragged Flaherty and Co. into bringing in the mortgage changes, rather belatedly, which the RE industry is still fighting aggressively.

So all-in-all I would rate him a B-. He followed the play-book of excessive easing, realised the debt-monster he helped build too late...but he did ring enough alarm bells for consumers to start thinking about their situation and he pushed the politicians into doing what they hate- pulling back speculators.

As to the 'strength' of the Canadian banks, we know that they have benefitted greatly from their near monopolistic situation, zero borrowing costs and the passing of risk onto the shoulders of tax-payers, not from prudent regulators.

And the fact we have weathered the last few years better than the US or Europe has much more to do with deficit spending and the rebound in China than the actions of a Central Banker. We are also in a situation that any slow-down in China or housing or double-dip in the US, will leave us with few bullets in the chamber.

However, his B- makes him seem like a hercules compared to the C and Ds the others like Greenspan and Bernanke and King would get.

Let us hope his successor strives for an A.

Our First Christmas Craft of the Season

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We surely did!!

We got back home on Friday, so there was plenty of time to get settled and relax a bit before starting the work/school week.

The holiday baking has begun, so I have to make sure I keep my running shoes broken in, or I'll be asking Santa for the next dress size up;o)

 Our first Christmas craft was peppermint Christmas trees.

 Thing 1 & 2 worked very hard at unwrapping many many peppermint discs...most made it on the trees...a few ended up in their bellies:o)

We started with tacky glue, but that was a bust..wet glue and sugary candy aren't a good mix..so we had to pull out the hot glue gun.

 I did all of the gluing, but this was a craft that required all hands on deck, so they didn't get bored with me doing the work. We had a lot of fun crafting, snacking, and listening to Christmas music.

Oh yeah, there was a wedding over Thanksgiving holiday:o)

Here are a few shots of the kids in their outfits I made.

 I am so blessed.

We went a head and started Elf on the Shelf...it's been hysterical!

We might have waited a little too late to start it..6 year olds are a little harder to convince of such things, but it's been absolutely too much fun trying:o)

I plan on taking pictures of our trees today. Hopefully I will get them posted tomorrow!!!

Boy's Vest and Bow Tie

A day late, I know, but here is E's vest and bow tie. 

I used a pattern for the vest, which was very confusing by the way. That's one of the reasons I like making my own patterns. I can piece the puzzle together quicker than I can read instructions and try to make sense of what they're trying to tell me:o)

Anyway, I am glad to have it done!

 The bow tie took about 35 minutes to make from start to finish. I think I will be making more of these. It's so stinkin' cute! The hubs even said he wanted some bow ties:o)

 Tomorrow is the big day. The kids are pumped, and the hubs and I are reeeally nervous:o) Not about the kids being the flower girl and ring bearer...they'll be fine...the hubs is playing the music and I am taking the wedding pics...no pressure..no pressure at all..ahhh!

I hope you all have wonderful Thanksgiving. Make sure to treasure every moment with your family, (no matter how annoying you might think they are, for those of you dreading it). You never know how long you'll have them!!!

Hugs to all!

List/Sales

I am being sent the Greater Vancouver list/sales on a daily basis.

Paul B has been providing this information for free and reliably, for a long time on Vancouver Condo Info. I don't want to overlap his work or steal his thunder.

However if I see that his numbers are missing, I will put up what I am sent.

Remember the numbers will be different from his as they have different parameters. My numbers are for the whole GV and all categories of product.

Also there will be no overall inventory numbers for now.

Dining Room Table-Christmas Centerpiece

Good Monday to you all! The elves have been busy here in our home, and are ready for their naps:o)

It looks like the North Pole exploded in our house...AND I LOVE IT!

I am not ready to share all of our trees...yes there are multiples..possibly 8...so I am waiting until after Thanksgiving to let you guys in on the fun:o)

I know the suspense is killing you;o)

I thought I would share my center piece for the dining room table, just to hold you over.

I created it using items I already had. I love FREE:o)

The September or November(can't remember which) Southern Living magazine had a beautiful centerpiece for fall with pumpkins, fall flowers, and berries. They had an enormous trough that they put it all in, and I thought, I wish I had something like that...well I completely forgot that I did:o)

I got a VERY distressed plant container from one of my mother's friends back in the summer, and stuck it in the attic so the hubs wouldn't fuss at me for junkin' up the garage. Out of sight, out of mind, so I didn't remember having it until I started digging through the attic for Christmas stuff.

I was so very very excited. And even more excited that I had the stuff to fill it up.

Fancy and Free:o)

 It makes a huge statement, because it is huge:o) My favorite part is that it is contained. I don't have a bunch of little nick-knacks strewn across the table like I normally do. Clean, elegant, and bold.

So are you ready for the holidays? Do you have all of your decorations up, or are you patient, and wait until after Thanksgiving to get in the Christmas spirit?

I must be off...I have to go make little man's vest and bow tie for the wedding. Hopefully I will be able to show it off tomorrow. Have a great Monday y'all!

Have you optimized your 2012 tax ? Last call !

Do you know that you can actually save up to RM 925 by paying attention to your tax even if you are only earning Rm 3,000 a month ?  The example is illustrated here !

This is a reminder last CALL for you to optimize your 2012 tax.  IRB may actually pay you a bonus this year !

Flower Girl Dress

Brrr! It's cold today! I can't believe how easily the cold wind can cut through you. I'm so very thankful for a warm home to shelter me from this frigid weather!

Speaking of being thankful, I have some wonderful news that my family and I are very thankful for. My uncle is getting married! He is engaged to a fabulous woman, who is absolutely perfect for him. We are all overjoyed for the both of them. They are getting married on Thanksgiving Day, and my little ones are part of the wedding party. 

If you are a follower of my Facebook page, you saw the inspiration dress I shared yesterday.

This is my version.

 For seven straight hours, I sewed away. 

Drowning in ruffles, constantly back and forth from my machine to the ironing board.

Blood, sweat, but thankfully no tears:o) (Stinkin' stick pins!)

I accidentally figured out how to make the ruffles quicker by loosening the thread tension...it could have been longer than 7 hours if I hadn't stumbled upon that!

 The neckline was a bear, but I finally got it to work. I pulled the stitches out three different times. 

My favorite is the back. This happened by accident as well. I ran out of the blue fabric, and had to use the mustard colored fabric for extra ruffles. A very happy accident indeed:o)

The petticoat is slightly underwhelming...I meant for the dress to be much "poofier." I think I'll hit Dillard's tomorrow and see if I can't find one to put under this one to give it just a bit more oomf:o)

So did I hit the nail on the head, or did I miss the mark completely?

I love it, and so does S.R....and hopefully the bride will too;o)

Now I must get to work on E's vest and bow tie...something that he is very excited about as well:o)

Updated Photo from Wedding:

Hot Cocoa Recipe

I love cold weather, a.k.a. snuggly weather. I love the warm blankets, cozy fires, and most of all, hot cocoa. 

I am not a big fan of cocoa mixes because of all the added "stuff" that is put in them. I prefer to cook my own.

 I have a favorite recipe for hot cocoa, and I have to share it with you so that you can enjoy it too.

It takes minutes to make, and warms your belly and puts a smile on your face:o)

Hot Cocoa

serves 4

adapted from this recipe

1/3 c unsweetened cocoa

3/4 c white sugar

1/3 c boiling water

3 1/2 c milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Bring water to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Add cocoa and white sugar. Bring back to a boil, and then lower heat so the mixture simmers. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add milk and vanilla, and warm to desired temperature. 

I usually pour the kids some before it has gotten too hot.

I spy some happy campers right here:o)

Now you can enjoy those few brief moments where they have a smile on their faces, and calling you the best mom ever, after drinking something delicious! Then brace yourself for the sugar high!

Some New Sewing Projects for Boys

Sewing for a little girl is so easy. There are so many cute inspirations out there for girls, but there really isn't a whole lot to choose from for little boys. Sometimes I feel guilty when I make something for S.R. because for every 3-4 things I make for her, I make 1 for E. Sad, I know.

It's a fine line when sewing for boys because some things out there are border-line ridiculous. You have to take great care in not making your boy look like a girl. 

So anywhoodles, I went to Heart and Home Fabrics on Etsy, and  let E pick out some really cute fabric from the "Children at Play" line by Sara Jane. 

I made this cute little bean bag ottoman from it. If I ever get around to it, I will do a tutorial because S.R. wants one as well:)

 I also made him a cute little vest out of the same fabric. Yes, it coordinates with his ottoman, but how often is he going to be wearing that vest while sitting on the ottoman? ;o)

I'll have a tutorial on how to make a vest very soon because I have to make another one for him. Wanna know why?

Because my uncle is getting married, and E and S.R. will be the ring bearer and flower girl. They are super excited, and so am I. I just have to get busy on making their clothes for the wedding. I have found some pretty awesome inspiration on Etsy, so I can't wait to show you what I'll be working on.

Until next time....

Malaysia Stock Market 20121107

Buying opportunities again ... are you dare to go for some year end bonus this year ?

TM : no major news, could have bought in today.  Should be a good keeper.

AIRASIA : EPF leaving, International investors support, internal Directors buy back.  If you like Airasia business model etc.  Opportunity to buy now.  No foreseeable big profit gain by year end thao.

AXIATA : No Major News, EPF & Amanah Raya holding up.

DIGI : face problems in service area, technical issues, licenses etc.  EPF disposing.  Watch closely for Management strategy turn over.  Now this company is 'finally' going south, not just stock wise, mainly business wise.

PBBANK : NO Major news, EPF continuously holding up.  But technically just started a down trend.  Don't chase down trend, wait a bit on this one.

What is your opinions ?  All comments welcome ...

Red Ribbon Week Poster-Master Yoda

Since I have been out of school for longer than I am willing to admit, there are a few things that I had forgotten about...one of them being Red Ribbon Week.

I am constantly being reminded of how the world isn't all roses and cupcakes. The thought of teaching my children to stay away from drugs had never crossed my mind until we got a letter from the guidance counselor about Red Ribbon Week. Yikes! How do you explain drugs to a 6 year old who has been completely sheltered? We struggled through it, but I think he got the gist of it. He knows their bad, and God doesn't want us to harm our bodies.

So, since we are all about Star Wars, he wanted to include Master Yoda on his poster.

The hubs knows all when it comes to S.W., so he came up with the slogan.

Pretty catchy, huh?

We flipped through some coloring books, and E picked this image for his poster. I used my little projector, and traced it in pencil.

He traced over the pencil marks in black marker, and then colored it in with crayons.

We used the S.W. fonts to make the letters...just printed the slogan out, cut, and pasted.

Easy Peasy.

He was the only one in his class to do a poster. He got to go to a popcorn party, and there were big kids there...a.k.a. 5th graders, so he felt pretty special:o)

It was so nice to be able to do an art project with him, especially since he's really starting to enjoy drawing...the coloring he could do without:o)

Great mommy/son bonding!

Halloween Costumes

Since I have been lagging on posts, I never told you guys what my kids were for Halloween this year. 

E, once again, wanted to be something related to Star Wars. I'm not sure if he was a clone trooper or a storm trooper, (I get confused) but I most definitely knew that making that costume for him was next to impossible. I hate buying store bought costumes, but I know my limitations people:o)

Thankfully S.R. wanted to be something easy, Pocahontas. The Disney Pocahontas costumes aren't exactly modest, so I decided that we would go for a less flashy, more coverage kind of dress:o)

E didn't get to wear his Star Wars costume to school, but they do have book character day, and get to dress up for that. He chose to be Peter Pan. It doesn't get much easier than that! I purchased 2 t-shirts from Hobby Lobby. The lighter color in his size, and the darker color in an adult large. I turned the adult shirt into pants using a pajamas pant pattern, and used the sleeves of that same shirt to make the hat.

 His belt was made out of brown ribbon and Velcro, and his feather was made from felt. He loved it, and best of all if was cheap and super comfy for him.

 S.R. 's costume took some planning, but once I figured out how I wanted to construct it, it was smooth sailing from there. I used a peasant dress pattern found at Walmart in the 99 cent section. The fabric is some kind of faux leather/suede material, also purchased from Walmart.

After I pieced the dress together, I cut the skirt portion into a V, and then laid it flat on the ground and started cutting slits. 

 I bought a shirt and leggings and dyed them tan, and painted a red tattoo on the sleeve of the shirt. 

The whole reason S.R. wanted to be Pocahontas was because of her "blue diamond necklace." The girl likes her bling, so I definitely had to include the neckalce!

I found the medallion at Walmart in the discount jewelry making section, and looped a leather necklace I had on hand through it.

That's one pretty little Indian Princess:o)

 Here is a shot of little man in his "Whichever" Trooper costume:o) Such a sweet boy!

 And the with the helmet on for the full effect.

We didn't do the normal neighborhood trick-or-treating this year for two reasons...the first was because it was on a Wednesday night, and we had church..and the second was because we have been fighting a cold virus, and S.R. has been on a nebulizer for quite some time now. We needed to stay out of the cold air, so  we decided to trick or treat at a local retirement home, and visit with the ladies there. 

It was so fun, and I'm so glad we got to visit with those sweet women!