~ Holiday Blessings ~

Yes, I've dropped off of the face of the earth!  I'm so very glad to be back.  I've missed sending out my little scribblings.  As you can see, I've been quite busy.  I've completely redesigned my Jules website.  I am now working on Little Girls' Pearls and *trumpets sounding* am working on a new funky website, Whimsy Kisses.  You're going to love it!  I know I do.

Thus my "Jules' Journal" has now become "A Bit of Whimsy".  I do hope you like it.  I would love to know your thoughts on the change.  Drop me a note and let me know what you think.

We're doing well around here.  Summer seems to be hanging on a LONG time this year.  Just last week it was over 80.  Now here on the beach we hardly ever see 80, so we are living in the proverbial Sunny California.  The boys were enjoying playing in the water in the backyard and basking in the glow of the sun.  The weather has finally cooled to autumn temperatures!

Okay, how very sad is this???  I am 33 years old.  (Stop snickering, that's not the sad part!)  This last week was the very first time I cleaned a chicken.  What kind of a wife and mother am I?  LOL  Oh it was so disgusting!  EWWWWW!  That was just about enough to make me a vegetarian.  The boys liked to roast chicken dinner though.  Just had to share my chicken cleaning experience with you.  Bordering on creepy!

I do hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.  We always hold hands and go around the table telling what we're thankful for.  I just love family traditions.

What are you thankful for?  I know with the holidays whirring around us it is so very easy to get caught up in the busyness of life that we forget about all of the wonderful things for which we can be thankful.  I know I am very susceptible to be sucked into the rush around this time of year.  Every now and then it's good to stop and take a break.  I try to grab my boys and head to the coffee shop for a "special milk" and a chat or some checkers.  Sometimes it's quite hard to get out of the rush of things, consciously try to take a break today.

Holiday blessings from our family to yours!

~ Julie *Ü*

Handcrafted Holiday Bazaar

That's right, I'm hosting a handcrafted holiday bazaar at my house!  It's on Saturday, December 9th from 2pm - 6pm.  We will be serving a lovely array of complimentary snacks, cider and goodies.  Everyone who attends is given a free ticket for our drawing for a gift basket worth over $300!

If you're not near Lompoc, no worries.  Click on the businesses below to shop their websites for fabulous Christmas gifts.

Are you near Lompoc?  Would you like to come to the party?  Drop me a note with your address and I'll send you a special invitation.

The fabulous family-owned businesses who will be attending are:

* Me ~ I'm bringing some of my Jules line, Little Girls' Pearls keepsake pearl line as well as my new Whimsy Kisses stuff (vintage jewelry, antique crystal, handmade felt flower hair clips).  I'll also be offering amazing custom order pieces for Christmas.

* Sharon Davis ~ Hand-Felted Purses  These are truly sweet and are donned with fun handmade felt flowers.

* Gerry Davis ~ Expressions in Wood  Fabulous wood gifts with amazing stories.

* Laurie Barber ~ Paper Doll Printing and Design  She's bringing gorgeous Christmas tags and notepads as well as offering fun custom printing for Christmas and amazing business printing.

* Cindy Ruda ~ Sweet Creations  The most amazing handmade chocolate confections you can find on earth!

* Cassie Spice ~ Mooseberry Mountain Candles  A great variety of hand-poured candles that smell wonderfully.

* Amy Jones ~ Baby Luv Bug Custom Handmade Baby Accessories including sleeping bags, afghan hooded blankets, burp cloths, bibs and fun baby sets.

* Carol Schermerhorn ~ She's bringing beautiful hand-knitted scarves and shrugs.

Contest

Robyn has won a family birthstone heart charm necklace.  Congratulations Robyn (I sent her a winner's note a bit ago.)

By being a newsletter subscriber, you are automatically entered into the contest with each new newsletter.  So each time "A Bit of Whimsy" is published a new winner is chosen.

The next newsletter's winner will receive a surprise.  I haven't decide what it is yet!  It is certain to be fun and lovely, though.

Invite your friends to join our newsletter list.  We'd love to have them.  Just have them sign up HERE.

Hee hee...

Hey, you read all the way to the bottom!  Good for you.  Quick, drop me a note to say, "hi!" and tell me you'd like to be entered into my "little note" contest.

This journal's winner is Jackie Villano of New Jersey.  Congratulations, Jackie!

I only received 36 entries last time, so you have a good chance of winning!  Come on, what have you got  to lose? *Ü*

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. 

~ W.T. Purkiser