Greetings!

I spent this morning make greeting cards.

From June thru September,

our tiny family celebrates 8 birthdays,

Fathers' Day, of course,

and 4 wedding anniversaries!

Oh Happy Summer!

Please check out my etsy for a great deal on my blank greeting cards and art tags.

I am offering a special purchase,

buy 4 cards or tags and choose a 5th for free.

Cards and tags were my big sellers at the antiques mall,

so I always have a stockpile.

I will be listing even more,

so check back often.

enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly

ps - thanks to Linda and Kathy for signing up for this week's swap,

plenty of room for more.

scroll down to the last post.

I'm Still Here

Life is like a box of chocolates...

...you never know what you'll get.

2010 did not end well for me,

my 94 year old grandmother was called home,

a few days after the funeral, I pulled out my back and was laid up for days,

the first day my back felt better, I woke up with a tickle in my throat which managed to progress into a fever and hacking cough in time for Christmas.

Those were just the big things, there was an unending barrage of little things that tested every fiber of my being, including an ornament fire just as we were about to say grace before Christmas dinner.  I like to think of myself as someone who takes most things in stride, a glass is half full type of gal.  However, after the ornament burst into flames, I looked to my dear Mr. AJS and told him that this is it, my breaking point, one more thing and I will just loose it.  Well, when a little while later a family member pulled me aside to let me know about a backed up bathroom issue, I once again turned to my rock and he sprung into action.  Within no time Mr. AJS returned from the garage in what could only be described as a make-shift haz-mat suit, I nearly rolled on the floor.  I looked around and saw the people I love gathered together, I saw my boys making memories (someday one of them will say,"remember when the Christmas ornament burst into flames, that was too funny"), I saw my peaceable kingdom made up of my 2 dogs and my new kitten, I saw my beloved always at the ready to save my day, and while I did not see grandmom this year, I am grateful and recognize what an amazing blessing to have known my grandmother for 50 of her 94+ years.

So with that said, I wish you all the hopes, blessings and promise that come with a New Year!

enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly

It Was 21 Years Ago Today!

My beautiful baby boy was born.

And now, he is a beautiful young man.
My TC is a new soul, everything in his life has been met with an innocent sense of discovery.
I have been truly blessed to rediscover so many of life's simple treasures through his eyes.
He is a hard working, soon to be college senior, studying to become a history teacher.
He is an incredible musician, he is kind and thoughtful, he has the most amazing sense of humor.
I am so incredibly proud to be his mom.
Happy Birthday & Love you T!

May You, Too, enJOY Your Blessings,
Kimberly

Updates!

I have one card left available to swap. Read here for details.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: NO CARDS LEFT!

THANKS WENDY, NATALEA, & GERALYN FOR ACCEPTING MY INVITE!!!

Only 8 more followers need to sign-up before I draw a winner of this book. Read more here.

And finally, the 4th of July Graduation Party is over, and by all accounts a great time was had by all! It was about 100 degrees here on Sunday, but most of our partiers toughed it out. Between the heat, excitement, and general merriment, I didn't take any pictures, so you'll have to take my word that everything came together perfectly.
I do hope that you and yours had a wonderful weekend as well!
enJOY Your Blessings,
Kimberly

A Few More Cards To Share

This is the last of the graduation cards, this one is for our nephew, whose moving up to High School.
Here's the card for my Ryan's graduation,

and this is the invite for his party this Sunday! The weather forecast for us here in New Jersey is hot and humid, what else would it be when I have 40 people coming for an outdoor party?
We always make the best of it,
enJOY Your Blessings,
Kimberly

Christmas In July

Michele is hosting a Christmas in July Swap, just click the photo above for details.

I thought I would share a few photos of my decorating from last year.

I mix old and new, Victorian-style tin plates, cute new little snowman and a vintage candy container snowman from the 1950s. To my eye, it all seems to work.

My reproduction feather tree was decorated entirely in vintage mid-century ornaments. I find it charming to think of how many children woke up to these ornaments on Christmas morning. My sister just thinks of them as dead people's Christmas decorations, she watches too much of The Ghost Hunters.

Our main tree, which we cut ourselves every year, is decorated entirely of blown glass ornaments. I have the ornaments from my Grandmom's tree and a multitude of ornaments that we have collected throughout our marriage, many of which have significant meaning. This collie is for our beautiful Belle, who we lost before Thanksgiving last year.

Merry Christmas In July, don't forget to stop by Michele's blog to join in the fun.

enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly

Congratulations To My Ryan!

Friday night was Jackson Memorial High School's Class of 2010 graduation ceremony! Can you tell how proud we are of Ryan? My boys actually hugged and exchanged "I love you"s. I love my guys!

enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly

Cards, Cards, And More Cards!

We have so many big occasions this summer, and I have been very busy making cards to celebrate each one. This card commemorates the 25 year anniversary of my sil and bil.

Our friend Steve celebrated his 21st birthday last week, he is a 4th year engineering major, and I thought that these old photos of buildings were just the right thing.

Our firstborn will be 21 next month. Anyone who has ever purchased one of my blank greetings may have noticed "my hallmark." I stamp the backside of each card "July 14 AM," that is when I became a mom 21 years ago .

Steve's little sister, Sarah, graduates middle school this week and is on her way to high school.

Last Friday, my Tony and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary, it was also the 25th anniversary of our first date.

Back to work, still plenty more cards to create.
enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly

Anyone Not Interested In The Rantings Of A Proud Mother...

...AVERT YOUR EYES NOW!!!

My sweet baby boy, now all grown up, is graduating High School next week!

The first photo is Ryan, age 3, with the sunflowers he grew from seed, and the second is Ryan on his way to pick up his date for the Prom last Friday. 15 years have passed between these photos, and he can still melt my heart. This boy is graduating with high honors, was accepted at 2 of the country's top engineering schools (priority wait-listed at 2 others), is a gifted musician, and along with his dad and brother make my life a JOY!!!

Okay, done with my rant, tomorrow I will return to regular blogging.

enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly