Christmas.....

hope everyone has had a very Merry Christmas! We, at the Farrer household, have had a fabulous day....
a little tired *as most parents are, I'm sure* but, it's all worth it!

I just feel so thankful today...
for a family that is just so darn cute. They warm the cockles o' my heart. I love how thankful they were for anything they got. and, for how excited they were to give the presents they'd made & bought for each other. It doesn't get much better than that!

for yummy gluten free food!~ I know this sounds silly, but I love food. I love it as a celebration for family traditions. And, in the past 6 months, with my new gluten free lifestyle I've come to really appreciate any kind of yummy food that doesn't make me so sick. I tell ya, it's been a hard year, but I'm so thankful I found out what was making me so sick & that I can still have chocolate, mexican food & icecream...all top 3 food faves we've been eating! And for anyone that needs a little hand-holding in the whole gluten free lifestyle, check out the above link. Shauna James Ahern has saved me! Thank you so much, Shauna!

for a White Christmas! Yes, I just said that. I know, for those that know me, this is huge. But, when I don't have to go out in it & get to stay inside & enjoy the snow...I'm good! LOL!
for all the good things to come in the New Year. I love a new year...it always feels like something to celebRate! So, with the 2009 approaching & 2008 coming to an end how about a huge chance to WIN your choice of *Rhonna Farrer digital kits. I'll choose a winner & you can pick any* 209 (if I HAD 2009 kits, I'd do it). Just spread the word & with each comment, track back, shout out on your blog/site, your name will be entered. But, you need to make sure you tell me about it here & link me back!
woohooo! I love a big give away!
Happy New Year!
Let the Celebration begin!
R
*this is for Personal License Terms of Use; all rights reserved copyright Rhonna Farrer.

Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas!

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother”. Abraham Lincoln

Today is my mom's birthday! ....she's a Christmas Carol!

I love you, mom....you're amazing & always inspiring me.

**i love your creativity. If there is *anything* a tiny wit creative about me; it's because of you! I remember coloring with you when i was young...like 4 or 5. And I looked up at your page you colored & my mouth dropped. A simple coloring page had become a masterpiece. I still remember the color scheme you used; pink, orange, green & yellow. It was the most beautiful coloring page I'd ever seen. I seriously remember being in awe & how you used your colors & made that page so beautiful! You still create a masterpiece with everything you touch! You always inspire me!

**I love how much you love dad! They just celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary...wow! Talk about a wonderful example! I love my parents together & how much they serve each other & love each other! She's such a great example of unconditional love!
You always inspire me!

** I love your fashion sense. And so do your other daughters and granddaughters! I loved this photo of you guys! 3 generations of fashionistas. (Bailey was tiny, so this must have been about 6 or 7 years ago?) I was always so amazed when my friends would say, 'Your mom is so cute...she dresses so funky." Even as a kindergartner! I loved seeing what style you'd come up with...what things you would wear. And now, at this age **ahem...21* you still dress so fab! You always inspire me!


** I love how much you love the Lord. You have always been so open about how you feel about Christ. How He is your Savior & how He is why you are what & who you are. Thank you for being an example & always inspiring me to be my best & to live like He would have me live. Thank you for continually inspiring me & all those around you....
& happy birthday...I love you eternally!
xox
R

i *love* this season...

it fills me with such joy.

I love the feeling & spirit I feel. I love the generosity, friendship, love & happiness I see in everyone around me. To me: it's all about the photo up there...the birth of Jesus...the reason for this season. It's all about love.

I love it.

We've been listening to Christmas music, making the english toffee

& have it all packaged up in chinese take out boxes with these Holly Jolly Epoxy labels. I love wrapping & packaging prezzies!

Today we made our gifts for each other. (a tradition we look forward to every year...handmade with love!)

S & I soldered pendants for J & T. I'll take a pic tomorrow to show you! I'm still learning how to solder like the Soldering Queen herself, Ms. Sally. But, like she taught us in our Art & Soul class; embrace your mistakes! So, while I am still learning...I do love our little projects we made for the girls; because they are made with love!

Good night...we are watching one of my favorite movies: It's a Wonderful Life!

english toffee recipe

I have this sister in law, Kim, who is not only the most amazing person...she's a fabulous cook. She's famous in our family for her english toffee. Each Christmas she & her family makes batch after batch of this deeeeelightful confection! And her neighbors (& family) look forward to this each year.

When I first tasted it; I thought I was in heaven. It's that melt-in-your-mouth kind of treat that is to. die. for! And...with this year being my first Christmas with Celiac, I was eager to find any kind of gluten-free treats to share with family & friends. And yes, you guessed it: this toffee recipe is gluten-free. color me happy!
I've been making it this year for our neighbors & let me tell you...it's still as scrumptious as ever.
And since I can't come & bring it over to you & packaged up in a cute little Martha-Stewart-style box, I'll just share the recipe here and here's a link to download a printable PDF file. I think it would be so fab to attach them to your packages!
Happy Holiday Baking!
R

**eta: Yes, Lowly, it's 1 cube= 1/2 c. butter. Sorry about that...around here we just call it a cube o' buttah! I'm getting better & better with each batch I make. Last night we tried making it thicker & w/ no choc. *just almonds. And we did the almonds on the Silpat first. THEN poured the toffee over it. wow. talk about yum!

And when I say 'looks like peanut butter' I mean: the color of peanut butter; not the consistency. As Kim says: It starts to smoke. Not burn, but it just starts to get that roasty smell. Then, you know you're done. (if you don't have the candy thermometer!)

LMK how your recipes work out!

It's about creating....

I enjoy it. I enjoy the process of daily living; teaching my children; loving & creating.

I enjoy being with my kids & husband. I enjoy new ideas. There's nothing like getting inspired by a simple glance at a colorful swatch of fabric , an amazing artists' use of color, or a brilliant website.

I absolutely *love* a good creative rush. & my goal is to experience that daily...whether it's creating for my family; with my family; for my work or for fun.

While I have my website, various projects, & products to create, I have missed the creation of a blog of my own. I'm excited to get back to it since my 2+ year hiatus!

I'm not very eloquent in writing & words. Those that know me IRL know I just babble & ramble...but, I enjoy myself! So, while this is may not be a showcase for my eloquent writing, I do hope it is a place for another creative outlet....a place for me to share visual eloquence & another place to enjoy the pRocess.

I love to dabble in photography, & I work in Illustrator & Photoshop with my Wacom all the time so I'll be sharing different projects; for work & for fun!

My goal is to enjoy the pRocess in every aspect of my life.

let the party begin....

R