Vacationing in France: the Christmas markets

We're back in Texas now and back to the daily grind. I'm having lots of fun going through our pictures! I've organized them by theme... Let's start out with the Christmas markets our area of France (Alsace) is famous for:

The Christmas markets in the little village of Riquewhir

Bread heaven!

 Spice heaven!

 Cheese heaven!

"Love Apples" are candied apples!

Squeezing out some fresh macaroons!

Up next? What we ate!

Mondays with Jack, 22nd edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Mondays with Jack! If you want to know what this weekly feature is all about, see here.

Heal the World Dangle Earrings from Big Bisous

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it." -- Jack Handey

Orglamix Mineral Makeup Giveaway winner!!

I wish all of you could have won!! The random integer generator gods have spoken, and lucky #45 is the winner!

Reba (pral47), I've sent you an email and you have 48 hours to confirm or another winner will be drawn.

Thanks everyone for playing along!

Happy New Year!

I'm sure y'all will be sleeping in under your warm blankets today! My husband Max and I will be on a plane, headed back to Texas and back to the grind!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year!!

Farewell to 2010

Cheers archival print from Love Sugar

Dear 2010,

You were a year of risk-taking. While 2009 can claim life-altering events like our move to Texas, buying our first house, and getting our first puppy, you were a rather ho-hum year, which was the perfect time to take a few leaps of faith.

First, I got a sewing machine and taught myself how to make some stuff. I made my first baby hats (with little ears) and got addicted to the taste of triumph!

Then I held my breath and jumped in with both feet: I opened my etsy shop and turned my card-making hobby into something with some potential for profit!

Oh yeah, and the blog. You were a big year for me in terms of connecting with others and joining the crafting and blogging community at large!

And let's not forget that novel I finally started writing. I pick away at it just a bit at a time, but I'm gonna get there!

I'm glad you were here, 2010. I'm especially glad I ignored all of those inside voices that said I couldn't do it, that I wasn't good enough, and who did I think I was?

So now I can finish off the year feeling proud of myself and my "big" risks. Thanks, 2010. You've been great!

Taste Test

I've been eating my little heart out here in France and taking advantage of all the food and dishes that I don't get in the States! Tartiflette, rosti, tarte flambee, and raclette (pictures forthcoming). Yesterday I had a REAL pain au chocolat. And I'm not talking about the kind you can get in the states at "La Madeleine" restaurants. No... I'm talking about a pain au chocolat that leaves your fingers covered in BUTTER. Yum.

Ahem... I'll be avoiding the bathroom scale for a few months, I can already tell.

But here's some tasty goodness from Etsy that won't go straight to your thighs: The Etsy Taste Test.

Have you heard of it? It's like a mini quiz you take, and then they compile a bunch of items for you to browse through. A personal window shopper, if you will. My results are here.

Here are some of my faves within my recommendations:

Let me know if you've taken the taste test or decide to take it - I'd love to browse through your results!!

Mondays with Jack, 21st edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Mondays with Jack! If you want to know what this weekly feature is all about, see here.

Travel to the moon and back- Space shuttle locket from Plasticouture

"Better not take a dog on the space shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up." -- Jack Handey