Another quick update

I wanted to give a quick update here so that you all didn't give up on me. I am super sick right now, probably bronchitis :o( I have no voice right now, fever, yucky cough, wheezing, just all around feeling lousy!

I also am trying to cope with the sudden passing of a dear friend who left this world way too soon. Jess left behind her husband and stepson, 2 fur babies and many family and friends that were her world. As much as my heart is hurting right now, I know there are many others who are just as devastated by her sudden passing. Please tell those you love what they mean to you, give them a hug, spend some time with them, you never know what tomorrow may bring. I know I would love to have the chance to spend another day laughing, pigging out on chocolate cake, and getting into some sort of trouble with Jess. We always seemed to find harmless (mostly) mischief somewhere! She was a tell it like it is kind of person who pulled no punches. She loved with all she had and was fiercely loyal to those she loved. I can't remember a time of being around her or a phone call that there wasn't uncontrollable laughter involved. She loved music and singing, her smile lit up a room. I remember her telling me one time that music was her way of escaping when she needed to. It's funny how people are put into our paths at certain times of our lives. I met Jess not long after I had moved into mine and the girls first apartment almost 10 years ago. The girls and I were doing laundry and there was a man and his son down there, we started talking and the next thing I knew...there she was. Her then boyfriend (now husband) had went and told her to "Come meet the nice lady he had been talking to." From there it was history and our friendship grew, we were almost inseparable for a long time. We shared so much with each other good and bad, supported each other, and loved each other. I can't tell you how many hours we spent just talking. Even though she had married and moved we kept in touch by emails, phone, texts, and facebook. Our conversations no matter who started them always started with "HEY HOOKER!" even if it was in the middle of WalMart. LOL 

I am going to stop here, I really didn't intend on this being so long. Please keep Jess's family and friends in your thoughts, this has been a devastating loss for so many people. Thank you to those who have had so many kind words of love and support, I love you all! Really as much as my heart aches, I can't imagine how hard this is for her family. They are the ones who need the most support, strength, peace and prayers right now and future. 

Jess, you have your wings now, soar high my friend. Give Grams my love and tell her Cookie says to take good care of you. I hope you know just how much your friendship meant to me. I will hold the memories we made close to my heart always. You were one of a kind. I know you will be watching over all of us, and every butterfly I see will remind me of that! I love you, rest in peace my sweet friend. 

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!

I am a spoiled brat!

I hope everyone had a great holiday with their family and friends. I know I sure did! The girls and I made a total of 11 different batches of cookies, fudge, pies plus some other appetizer type foods for our big family get together on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas I made a pretty low key dinner that included turkey, stuffing, mac & cheese, real mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole and corn. Mom and Lisa had spent the night with us and then Dad came over to eat with us. It was a really laid back nice day. 

Here are a few pictures of the girls and Lisa opening their gifts. Lisa was so excited that Santa knew to bring her gifts to my house. The girls even played along with her excitement and pretended that Santa had brought them gumball machines. I hope one day they will realize the happiness that put in my heart. 

The girls with their 1/2 pound peanut butter cups!

 I was spoiled beyond rotten by some of my friends and family. Some of the packages I got were parts of swaps and secret Santa exchanges, but I decided they were all gifts since they mostly came on Christmas Eve haha! These pictures are the contents of 4 packages that came on Christmas Eve from my good friend Jessi, Gillian in Ireland, my secret Santa Traci, and my December nail pal Katelyn.

The cute little penguins are ornaments from my nail pal.

H&M minis and Gem Crush minis. Mom loved the Gem Crush polishes, I may try to find some for her for her birthday in April.

My first polish from 365 Days Of Color. Also look at the magic in that bottle of Barry M!

The last one is actually a shimmery orange. My camera refused to recognize orange last night.

Mom tried to steal the one on the right, it is a polish from the Betsey Johnson collection.

So much sparkle!

This picture is of the packages from my friend Jade who is in the UK. One of the GOSH holographic polishes is for my friend Robyn, it has been one of her biggest lemmings. I was so excited to be able to arrange to get it for her!

Yes that is 2 bottles of Fantasy Fire and GOSH holographic! I also got a Kinder Happy Hippo, but ate him before I got pics. I was definitely a happy fatty when I saw him!

These pictures are of the package from my friend Lynn who I share a brain with. I think she and I were secretly separated at birth or something, we can probably finish each others sentences. It is so funny how much we think and respond alike, we are always telling each other to "get out of my head!" She spoiled the girls and I and even Rowan rotten.

Look at the cupcake rolling pin and spatula, the cuteness hurts!!!!

This blankie is so soft and comfy!

Icing polishes

I laughed so hard when I saw the bag of all these orange polishes. I had been on a hunt for a true orange creme polish. I could picture Lynn going from store to store grabbing all the orange creme polishes LOL. Also LOOK! My very first KB Shimmer polish!!!!!! If you don't know, orange is also my favorite color.

My first Studio M polishes, look at all the sparkle in those bad boys.

There are sparkly moons in the middle polish!

OH I almost forgot I also got the Zoya Holo-Day Cheer Dream Box for myself for only $4 using my share the love points. It has the colors Aurora, Blaze and Storm in it. I think the Ornate collection was my favorite collection from Zoya this year.

The girls got me a Whitney Houston Christmas CD, because they know I love her. Hannah made me a sweet slideshow on the computer and some cute necklaces. One of my sisters gave me the cutest little crock pot, another sister gave me all sorts of cute cupcake themed stuff. My friend Rebecca gave me a couple pairs of earrings she made, they are too cute! I will have a post just for those though. I got to visit with my friend Marisela who flew in from California. I knew I missed her, but didn't realize how much until we hugged and didn't want to let go. She has been a true gift this year to the girls and I.

I can't wait to play in my polishes! I am beyond thrilled with everything I received from my family and friends. The things that I enjoyed the most were being able to enjoy time with my family and laugh, and knowing that I have good friends that love me despite how twisted I can be.Watching my 1 year old great niece eating cookies and fudge I had made and saying mmmmmm then giving me cookie goo kisses. My great nephew Gabe who is 3 rip his shirt off to put on his new scratch and sniff shirt that smells like peanut butter and jelly. That is what the holidays are all about love, laughter, and creating memories to carry with you. 

What was your favorite gifts you received? Is there a special memory that was made this year?

*All products shown here were gifts or parts of swaps with friends. All opinions are my own*

Peace, Love and Cupcakes!