Rudolf For a CURE!

As Santa says to Rudolph~ Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight, I am asking "Rudolph with your nose so PINK won't you give us a CURE tonight?!" As I was baking cookies today I decided I would make a cookie to promote the CURE during Christmas!  

On Tuesday, December 20, 2011 our old friend Lisa Giardetti Schmalbach passed away after a two year battle of breast cancer at the young age of 38 years old.  Her fight against this devil was so notable & her cause for fighting so hard, her 2 young boys of 13 & 10 is something that I will never forget as long as I live.  I feel very fortunate enough to have reconnected with Lisa this past year.   She gave me some of the most powerful and memorable life advice that I will vowel to do my best to live by for as long as i live.  She touched so many and we were all privileged to be apart of her journey because of Lisa's best friend Kris, and she provided me with yet another life lesson in all of this.  Kris has to be one of the most loyal & inspiring friends that I have ever witnessed.  You couldn't even write a book to describe the passion and support that she gave to Lisa. Both extraordinary woman that I am proud to be acquainted for so many wonderful reasons, I do wish that I had reconnected with them both sooner.  My heart breaks for Kris having lost her best friend at such a young age, along with the heaviest heart for Lisa's boys and family.  

In addition to Lisa, another one of our friends was diagnosed this year with breast cancer and has forged forward through her battle like none that I have ever seen.  She is doing amazing and has through her journey, has had such courage and grace to fight as well is honorable.  They both are a remarkable inspiration to us all we are blessed to have them in our lives. 

With that, please pray for our Lord to gift someone the graces to find a cure for this awful dicease.  Perhaps Santa & Jesus can add it to someones presents under their tree.  It's here the cure I know it, we need to pray harder for it.  Seeing & believing this holiday season is the new black ;)  therefore here is my Rudolf and his new look~  a pink nose & black antlers!

For Lisa, Jen & all the people that are effected by this devil we know as cancer. God Bless!

To read more of Lisa's story you can find read here~ http://www.lisagiardetti.org/

Merry Sweets DIY Banner

Merry Merry!  That has been jingling in my head since attending the Starbucks Holiday Party designed by Hostess with the Mostess last month.


With that being said I had the opportunity to create things for an island in a kitchen last weekend for The Garden Girls at one of the homes on the Chestnut Hill Holiday House Tour and used the theme "Merry Sweets".  
I, like many others try to do lots of DIY for Christmas decor.

I want to share with you a quick tutorial on the glitter banner I made.   If you know me I always tend to use Martha Stewart brand for crafting.  I find that from paint to stickers and ribbon the quality of the product is better then most.  This month in the Martha Stewart Living magazine they had great coupons to buy her paints and crafts from Michaels and I took advantage with the savings can't wait to share out project with the paints I bought! !  


Here is what you need~ burlap from a fabric store to cut triangles with, glitter glue, glitter and letters.  I bought my letters at Michaels for $1.00, ribbon, jingle bells & a glue gun.  

The letters I bought were pre-made glittered. 

Take one letter and triangle at a time 

paint the back of the letter with glue and press it onto a burlap triangle.

Hold the triangle over a bowl and pour the glitter onto the glue

 and shake off the access.  

Let the glitter dry.  

To assemble, I used a pencil to make little holes in the burlap and 

used thin ribbon to secure the 2 together.  Then tied two more pieces to that ribbon.  

Here's a cute photo of my 2 year old getting caught trying to sneak a candy cane when i was taking photo's of the banner.  She is so cute, love to see her little hand pop into a picture!

Merry Merry!  More to come soon with the Merry Sweets island later this week!  

Peace, Love & Merry Sweets,

Stacy