The {A} List.

There are so many things I have experienced over the last couple months that I want to highlight here. Lots of goodies & goodness. Cool people. Interesting reads. Enjoy!

œ : Yesterday at The Scrap Yard in Albany, Oregon I got to meet Amber Lee who owns a great online ribbon store called The Ribbon Jar. I had no idea she was a local girl - cool to meet her in person and she brought me a lovely little jar of ribbons. What is great about her site is she has a nice selection of different kinds of ribbon that you don't find everywhere else. Loving this one right now.

œ : While in Cape Cod I visited a store called Oo La La with Jenn & Steph & my mom. So darling. One of my favorite purchases there was a "tall book" (actually not so tall in real life, more like a tall match book, but that is the name of it) from a company called Iota. Awesome pattern on the front and nice lined pages inside. Once again, I am a sucker for blank books.

œ : Meeting new friends is big on the {A} list. With all the travels lately, that has been a lot of new people! Here are just a few...

œ : New compliation Christmas CD's from Starbucks: Baby It's Cold Outside (my favorite) and Elton John's Christmas Party. They make me want to have holiday gatherings. Can not wait to put up my tree and decorations the day after Thanksgiving. SERIOUSLY excited about that one.

œ : Body & Soul is still totally rocking as my favorite magazine. I pick it up and it finds new ways to lift me up each month.  I love how each month they include a "10 Thoughts on Whole Living" page - it weaves in all the thoughts & things they are featuring that month. I have been tearing them out and posting them on my cork board for daily inspiration. The December issue is sitting here patiently waiting to be devoured in a moment of free time. I peeked ahead at the "10 Thoughts" page, appropriately adjusted to be "10 Thoughts on Holiday Living." My favorite for December is: Tradition connects you to your past; nostalgia distances you from your present.

œ : Papers that are doing it for me this moment are new from K&Company - a totally cool line from an artist named Danny O'Connor. I looked around online - K&Co. does not have his products listed yet on their site. Go to his site and you can see what his style is like - very vibrant and totally full of life - great for all kinds of layouts and projects. The papers I have here are awesome colorful collages.

œ : Very hot water with fresh mint. The perfect tea. It is totally visually pleasing as well. Florence and I experienced this concoction at a great little restuarant in Amsterdam. Heading to the store today for some fresh mint.

œ : Receiving more birthday cards than I could ever imagine! While I was teaching in The Netherlands I received SO MANY wonderful birthday wishes - it was seriously amazing. Also, in The Netherlands they say, "congratulations" when it is your birthday. I liked that. It made me giggle each time.

œ : A great little scrapbook tool belt made by Marie Cox. SUPER COOL. She brought me one at CKU-A in Stamford and I wore it with such pride. Thanks a million Marie.

œ : Loving this cool digital kit from Gina at Digital Design Essentials. Gina and I connected way back in the day and I am totally proud of her and the work she is doing. Paper scrapbookers can use these elements - add them to photos in Photoshop (or whatever photo image program you use) or print out the paper desigins onto white cardstock and use as cool patterned paper on your next layout. I am all over these birds right now.

œ : And speaking of birds, check out Elsie's new Urban Birdies font at Two Peas.