AWARD I RECEIVED

I've been honored with an award from ZEE'S DESIGNS at

http://zeesdesigns.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!


The Premio Dardos award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.

The rules are:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Those that I want to pass this on to are all talented, giving and generous artists...please go visit their blogs and share some love and appreciation for all they do and share...

http://createwithtlc-createwithtlc.blogspot.com/

http://www.deliciousscraps.com/

http://thescrappincop.blogspot.com/

http://designzbylou.blogspot.com/

http://starfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

http://cufreebiesonly.blogspot.com/

http://heartprintsbykc.blogspot.com/

http://lisajostudio.blogspot.com/

http://nancysmemoriesandscraps.blogspot.com/

http://libbysscrapz.blogspot.com/

http://ladyshannonmemoriesmadeeasy.blogspot.com/

http://www.happybirdscraftinghaven.com/

http://cute-and-crafty.blogspot.com/

http://digital-keepsakes.blogspot.com/

http://creativedelusionzscraps.blogspot.com/

COLORS OF ROSES FROM THE HEART

Thinking of sending roses to a loved one,
but not sure what color to send?

RED is for Love, Passion, Respect and Courage.
WHITE is for Innocence, Purity, Secrecy.
YELLOW is for Joy, Friendship
CORAL is for Desire.
LIGHT PINK is for Grace, Gladness, Joy
DARK PINK is for Thankfulness
LAVENDER is for Love at First Site, Enchantment
ORANGE is for Fascination

LOVE'S RISK

There is a risk involved in everything
Every time you share a smile
Every time you shed a tear
You are opening yourself up to hurt.

Some people tread slowly through life,
Avoiding the closeness risk brings,
Side-stepping the things they can't understand
Turning away from those who care too much,
Those who care stay too long,
Those who hold too tightly.

There is never an easy way to love
You can not approach it cautiously
It will not wait for you to arm yourself.
It does not care if you turn away
It is everywhere, it is everything.

Love is the greatest of all risks.
It is not reliable, it is not cautious,
It is not sympathetic
It is unprejudiced and unmerciliess.
It strikes the strongest of mind,
And brings them to their knees in one blow.

Even in the best of times, love hurts.
It hurts to need, it hurts to belong,
It hurts to be the other part of someone else,
Without either of your consent.
But, from the moment it overtakes you,
It hurts worse to be all alone.

The risk of love never depletes;
It grows stronger and more dangerous with time.
But, it's in the total surrender of all defense,
That we, no matter weak or strong,
No matter willing or captive,
No matter what, we truly experience love.

Despite the many things love is not,
Outweighing it all are the things that love is.
Love is surrender without a loss.
It is a gift without the cost.
It consumes your every thought & desire,
Every breath you take.
It is the fire that fuels you
To do more than pass through life;
It urges you, instead, to live.

No matter the outcome, having felt love,
You will never be the same.
It may scar your heart & soul
And Leave you only memories of forever.
Or, it may cause every day of your life
To feel like there is no need for tomorrow.
But, love is worth it. It is worth the risk...
For in all of life,
Love is truly the only risk worth taking.

Author Unknown

NATURAL HIGHS

Natural Highs

Falling in love. Laughing so hard your face hurts. A hot shower. No lines at the Super Walmart. A special glance. Getting mail. Taking a drive on a pretty road. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside. Hot towels out of the dryer. Walking out of your last final. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price. Chocolate milkshake. A long distance phone call. Getting invited to a dance. A bubble bath. Giggling. A good conversation. A care package. The beach. Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter. Laughing at yourself. Midnight phone calls that last for hours. Running through sprinklers. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. Laughing at an inside joke. Friends. Falling in love for the first time. Slumber parties. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep. Your first kiss. Being part of a team. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. Playing with a new puppy. Late night talks with your roommate that keep you from sleeping. Having someone play with your hair. Sweet dreams. Hot chocolate. Road trips with friends. Swinging on swings. Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love. Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking eggnog. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid. Going to a really good concert. Getting butterflies in your stomach every time you see that one person. Making eye contact with a cute stranger. Winning a really competitive game. Making chocolate chip cookies! Having your friends send you homemade cookies! Spending time with close friends! Running through the fountains with your friends. Riding a bike downhill. The feeling after running a few miles-an accomplishment! The feeling you get the first time you step on stage. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends...Holding hands with someone you care about. Wearing your boyfriend's shirt that still smells like his cologne. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change. Discovering that love is unconditional and stronger than time. Riding the best roller coasters over and over. Hugging the person you love. Watching the expression someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you. Kisses on your forehead from the first and only boy you have ever loved. Watching the sunrise. Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

METHODS OF LOVE

• Kiss on the ear = "I'm Horny"
• Kiss on the cheek = "We're Friends"
• Kiss on the hand = "I Adore You"
• Kiss on the shoulder = "I Want You"
• Kiss on the lips = "I Love You"
• Kiss on everywhere else = "Let's get Busy"
• Holding hands = "We Can Learn To Love Each Other"
• A wink = "Let's Get It On"
• Slap on the butt = "Watch Out"
• Playing with the ear = "I Can't Live Without You"
• Arms around the waist = "I Love You To Much To Let Go"
• Pulling hair on head = "Tell Me You Love Me"
• Looking into each other's eyes = "Let's Get Romantic"
• Holding on tight = "Don't Let Go"

11 RULES TO ALWAYS FOLLOW

• ~~Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
• ~~When you say, "I love you," mean it.
• ~~When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
• ~~Believe in love at first sight.
• ~~Love deeply and passionately. You may get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely.
• ~~Don't judge people by their relatives, or by the life they were born into.
• ~~Marry a person you love to talk to. As you get older, his/her conversational skills will be even more important.
• ~~Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
• ~~Don't just listen to what someone is saying. Listen to why they are saying it.
• ~~Don't trust anyone who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
• ~~Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

20 SECRETS TO HAPPINESS

1. Return everything you borrow.
2. Stop blaming other people.
3. Live within your means and within your seams.
4. Be humble.
5. Listen more; talk less.
6. Every day, do something nice and try not to get caught.
7. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
8. Be on time.
9. Don't criticize anyone for 24 hours.
10. Be kind to other people.
11. Be even kinder to unkind people.
12. Take time to be alone.
13. Admit it when you make a mistake.
14. Understand and accept that life isn't always fair.
15. Let someone cut ahead of you in line.
16. Don't argue.
17. Know when to say something.
18. Know when to keep your mouth shut.
19. Don't make excuses.
20. Don't sweat the small stuff.

SAY THANK YOU to our military members

Ever wonder how to say thank you when you see a
military person in uniform?

See a simple way to do it from across a room or
as you are passing by.

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

Pease pass it on to family & friends!

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TOP POSTING MEMBER IN NOVEMBER 08

While I was away for 6 weeks taking care of my Father in Law in Arizona, I received an award from the CU FREEBIES ONLY forum. I am Just now getting around to posting it on my blog. I am so eager to get back into actively creating and posting and sharing again.

I want to thank Lauralee for the honor and the award!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!





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A Valentine From Jesus

A Valentine From Jesus

I love you. You are mine.

Your name is written upon My heart.

Your prayers are precious to Me.

Your life is in My hands.

I am always with you, nearer to you than your own heart.

I gave My life so that you might live forever with Me.

All I ask in return is your love.

Be My Valentine, Jesus

P.S. You are precious in my sight, and honored,
and I love you. --Isaiah 43:4

CUDDLES AND KISSES QP

You can purchase the kit to make this layout for just ONE DOLLAR at:
www.artandscraps.com
http://www.artandscraps.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=187


But, you can snag this QP for free at the 4shared link below...
It is 300PPI, 12x12 in size.
The zip includes PSP7, PSD and PNG files.
download removedHUGS
RhondaSue

.

here is another Valentine's Day card for you

Hope you can use this...
Just click on it and then right click on it and select SAVE AS and save it where ever you want on your computer.

HUGS
RhondaSue

Lollipop Cookie Valentines

Lollipop Cookie Valentines

Ingredients:
12 flat wooden popsicle sticks
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 (1 ounce) squares white or dark chocolate, or 6 ounces of each
1 egg white
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
food coloring (optional)
assorted candies and cake decors



Directions:
1 Soak popsicle sticks for one hour in a bowl of cold water.
2 In small heavy saucepan over very low heat, stir chocolate chips until
melted and smooth. Remove from heat; let cool.
3 In large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat butter, brown
sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat egg in well; beat in cooled chocolate.
With mixer at low speed, beat in flour, cocoa powder and salt until smooth.
Divide dough in half.
4 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and grease 2 large cookie
sheets.
5 Roll each half out to 1/8 inch thickness between 2 sheets of wax paper;
freeze, in wax paper, 5 minutes. Peal top sheets of wax paper off dough;
cut dough out using 3-inch heart-shaped cutter. Reroll scraps; freeze again
5 minutes; cut out. Place half of the hearts 1 inch apart on prepared
cookie sheet.
6 Drain sticks, pat dry. Place one stick on each heart to make 2 1/2 inch
handle, pressing lightly into dough. Place remaining hearts on top; press
edges gently to seal. Bake about 12 minutes until firm to touch. Cool on
wire racks.
7 In 2-quart heavy saucepan over very low heat, or in top of double
boiler set over barely simmering water, stir white or milk chocolate until
melted and smooth; if using both chocolates, melt in separate 1-quart pans.
Remove from heat.
8 Holding each lollipop by handle, dip into chocolate to coat on both
sides; let excess chocolate drip back into pan. Place each lollipop as it
is coated on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet; refrigerate 20 minutes until
chocolate is set.
9 To Make Icing: In large bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat
egg white and confectiners' sugar until very smooth. If desired, remove
small portion of icing to separate bowl; tint with drops of food coloring.
Spoon icing into decorating bag fitted with small writing tip; pipe over
lollipops in delired patters. Decorate with assorted candies and decors;
attaching with dots of icing.
Makes 1 dozen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conversation-Heart Cookie Pops

COOKIES
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 18 oz package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
9 paper lollipop sticks (6")

ICING
3 egg whites (or 3 tbsp meringue powder combined with 6 tbsp warm water)
1 16 oz package confectioner's sugar
Red, yellow, orange and purple food coloring

COOKIES: Beat flour into dough until combined. Divide dough into two pieces; roll into balls. Between sheets of wax paper roll out dough to 1/2" thickness. Freeze 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Using 3" heart-shaped cookie cutter cut out hearts, rerolling dough scraps as necessary to make 9 hearts. Place cookies 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Starting at pointed end insert lollipop stick 3/4" into each dough heart. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool on racks.

ICING: At high speed beat egg whites (or meringue powder and water) until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in sugar until combined. Increase speed to medium; beat 1 minute. Divide icing equally among 5 bowls; tint to desired color with food colorings. Transfer 1/4 cup purple and pink icing to separate food storage bags; reserve. Add 1/2-1 tsp water to each of remaining icing until pourable. Place rack with cookies over wax paper. Pour icings over cookies; let dry, 5-10 minutes. Snip one corner from each bag of reserved icings to make small hole; use to write on hearts. Makes 9 cookie pops.

Valentine Fudge

Valentine Fudge

1 1/2 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 jar marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup halved maraschino cherries

Microwave margarine in bowl or casserole dish until melted.
Add sugar and milk, mix well. Micro on high for 3 minutes,
stir, 3 minutes again, stir, 3 minutes again, stir,
3 minutes again, stir. That's a total of 12 minutes.

Stir in chips until melted. Add remaining ingredients.
Pour into 13 x 9 or 9 x 9 pan which has been buttered.
Cool at room temperature then cut into squares or
hearts shapes using a heavy duty cookie cutter.

Valentine's Day 2009 Template and GCs

Template and cards in zip are all in 100PPI.
They are invitation sized note cards that fit
into 4 3/8" x 5 3/4" envelopes.
The template is my own.
Credits for the elements belong to:
1) Scrap items made by Sabrina Ferreira and
2) Scrap items made by Helga's Classie Creationz

download link for zip is:removed