Okay, so I saw on Amuse's banner on Split Coast that they're releasing new stamps for Halloween.  Shame on me, as I've been in Seattle over 6 months already and I still haven't been to the Amuse store, lol.

But...I saw that they made these new "Seattle" stamps and I must have them now.  I guess I'll have to get myself downtown one of these days.

   
I have been debating back and forth on doing Christmas cards or not...but I realize that I don't think I can not make cards, lol.  Am I crazy?!?  No, I think I just can't find it in my heart to go to the store and buy cards when I have piles of paper at home.  I am trying not to spend money on things that aren't Europe related until I get back.  But since I still have a Paypal balance that I use for my Bella stamps, I used some of it to buy some Elzybell stamps.  And these are the ones from Europe, so full size stamps, not the mini ones from Amuse.  

I have lots of Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper from last year, so that will be the bulk of what I make my cards out of.  I always send a picture of Brent and I from the Gala...and I will also include a picture of us from the wedding and one from Europe.  

It's been a Bliatout tradition to send out our Christmas letter.  My mom use to write it every year and thats what my extended family looked the most forward to.  My brother has since been writing it...so I usually just send Brien my paragraph about me for the letter and send my card and picture seperately.  But now that I'm married, I will carry this on to our little Smith family, lol.  So I'm thinking I will write a Christmas letter too.  Plus, it'll be easy as Brent and I have done alot this year.  Moved to Seattle, got married, and we're going to Europe. 

Last year I finished all of my Christmas and Save the Date cards at the Album Retreat.  Thank you Tresea Dewitt (one of my roomies) for helping me glue everything together!  Maybe I should of gotten the mini ones from Amuse to cut down on the coloring, huh?!?  Oh, just another excuse to me more Copics, lol.  

I do all of my Christmas shopping on Black Friday.  What I loved about Denver is that people aren't as into it as they are in the NW.  In Portland, I've gotten hit by carts, shoved by people, and have seen people fight over the last TV, Ipod, etc.  In Denver people were relaxed, nice, and just let me through to what I wanted.  I'm scared of traffic this year, but I'm hoping that I can get Dana and Breanna to go with me this year.  When Dana and Brian (Brent's older brother) were still married, they'd come down to Portland for Thanksgiving.  Dana and I would get up at 3:30am and go shopping, lol.  But now I live only 20 minutes from her, so I'm sure she'll be up to going with me.  

This Christmas will be weird for me this year, as my parents will have moved into their new house.  But it works out nice because Brent's family celebrates on Christmas Eve...and then we'll wake up early on Christmas day to open presents with Michael and Emily.  

My OC Chrismukah spirit is coming back to me...and I haven't even gone to Europe yet, lol.