WHAT LIES BEHIND!

Happy Everything! :-) Well can you believe the decade is nearly over. One more year! When I think about all the life I lived over the past year I'm amazed. It's a trip to look back, with laughter and wonder, and think about all you've seen so far. So I decided to reminisce on things I remember in the past few decades!

I remember Bell Bottoms and white boots. I had some of each. Hush puppy shoes, with the dog patch on the front. Slinkies and Happy Faces. Big Head Bands and Afro puffs which I wore with pride.

Hoola Hoops and Pogo Sticks. LOL. The Name Game and The Chain of Fools. A Barrel of Monkeys and Mr. Potato Head (who was my favorite). Bazooka Gum and Cracker Jacks.

Red Hots and Now n' Laters. Metal Skates and Ultra Man. Freda Payne and Freddie Fender. Disco Music and Pop Locking. The Robot and The Funky Chicken. Gumby. The Outer Limits and Twilight Zone. From Beyond and The Flintstones. That Girl and Family Affair. Deviled Food Ham (icky) and Hot Fried Spam. Drive In Restaurants and Movies. Edge of Night and Peyton Place. 8 Track Tapes and 45s. Beta Max and Maxi Dresses. Breakfast Nooks. Rotary Phones and Manual Typewriters. Inch Worm and Chatty Kathy. Operation and Mousetrap. Candylane and the Munsters. OMG, I could go on forever LOL. Those were all things I thought up as I wrote. My how times have changed!

The greatest thing I remember is when I crowned myself Queen of My World! LOL

I can honestly say I'm so happy to have lived in the 90s and just as happy about What Lies Ahead! Life is Good!

What do you remember with a smile?

The Spirit of the thing. Hats Off to You!

Oh my goodness, I just had to share this with you guys. The Spirit of the Thing.

A couple of weeks ago I put out an announcement that I was looking for an organization to make a donation to that would not resell the items. I wanted them to go directly to those that could find use in them. In my chaotic resume of Arts is another love of mine, crocheting. Something I love to do but rarely have time for. A few years back during a down period, I crocheted a boat load of hats. Seriously, I was making those things like crazy. All styles, creating patterns as I went, you name it.

Last week I donated the hats along with some Jewelry and some T-shirts (from my Fabric Painting period). This morning I received this email and pictures. My heart is still a little mushy right now :-} Life is good.

Hello friends/follower's of Steph, creator of DIVIACITY. I have been a fan of her many talents for many years. Artist of the canvas, jewelry maker, scrap book creator, crafter, Teacher, journalist and writer, poet and web wizard. A little side love that Stephanie has, she crochets.

She also has a heart for our Seniors and Disabled. This year she donated her crocheted creations to our loved ones at the Arden Rehabilitation Living Home in Sacramento Ca. Her generosity blessed over 20 residents with hats and t-shirts to keep them warm at night and something to cherish and bring them joy during the holidays.
The staff were blessed with Fashionable jewelry by Diviacity.

All of these gifts and stockings were presented to the residents and staff by the Members of Celebration Christian Center Global Impact Ministries, (CCC for short) in Sacramento Ca. CCC members go to the Home every Sunday to give them an uplifting word of encouragement and hugs of love. We also sing with praise and worship. The residents love and appreciate us in return.

Thank you Steph for the wonderful blessing.

Love and Merry Christmas
Cheryl, Sacramento

**
Thank you for the lovely email Cheryl. And thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures. :-) It makes me so happy to know that they loved and can use them. I wish all a beautiful way and warm Holiday spirit! :-)
Life is good,
Steph

The Sweet Stuff!

Do you believe in organized chaos? hmmm.... I think that about sums me up these days in a sort of not really way LOL.

Here are my tips for quick gifts and more. This really worked for me this year since I do everything right up to the minute!

Garlic and Sun Dried Tomato Olive Oil

Keep your Tomatoes Covered in oil to keep them from drying out.

Chop your tomatoes according to desired amount. Any amount is fine.

Add to container along with a clove or a tsp minced Garlic and Olive Oil

Create a seal with Foil by putting it over the opening of the container. Once you tighten the lid over it the Oil will stay put and the yumminess will happen!

Add a tag and your own words and some fibers for a final touch.

Fruit Jars with Class

Make a circle on a piece of sticker paper using the lid of your jar as a guide. Cut out

I actually made my mark on the lid before cutting.

Use Double stick tape to add ribbon and other fun items.

Diviacitys Vodka Apple Pie
Using Jar with apples, Empty half of juice (it's just water and sugar in this container)
Add Vodka, a dash of cinnamon, a teeny pinch of nutmeg, stir, chill, serve.
Cinnamon sticks add a decorative touch!

The Sweet Smell of Life!
Find a wonderful scented candle (you want them to love it inside and out)
Remove label from Jar (leave label on bottom of jar so scent and other info is still available.
Use Rub ons as I did below or create your personalized message in some other fun method.
You could even add stickers to this one. Tie with a couple of different fibers.
Quick, sweet and fun!

A Cup O' Candy!
This is a glass measuring cup ( $3.00 at Walmart)
Simply add their favorite candy or even have fun with vintage candy and serve!
The measuring cup is re-usable and will be appreciated!

Dollar Store Find!
Tea Cup with strainer and lid.

Saucy Specs!

Readers make a cute gift. Make sure you verify the strength.
Nothing like a Reader Headache!

I hope these tips help you add to the fun in a simple and inexpensive way!

Well off I go to see what else I can get into LOL.
Life is Good!

Yummy Yummy good for my tummy!!

Well hello there! Happy Holidays!

I know you've been crazy busy. What have you been up to? I'd love to hear how you're celebrating your Holidays or not.

So I decided that this year, due to the State of the Economy in my apartment, that I would bake! Bake! So I gathered my wits and headed into the kitchen. I pulled the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer out (which really there is no pulling out, it's so heavy it kind of lives where it lives LOL), dusted it off and proceeded to lose my mind! And this was premeditated mind losing!So at 11:00 I sit here waiting for the last batch of the night to come out of the oven. I've made Cranberry and White Chocolate Divas (my name for them LOL), Peppermint Coolers and Lemon Frosties. I started with a base cookie:

2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup butter
2 tspns vanilla extract (I've substituted this with other flavors of extract and they all worked.
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tspns baking powder
1 tspn salt

Preheat the oven to 350. Cream the shortening, butter and sugar together. stir in eggs and vanilla. Combine all of the dry ingredients and mix into the creamed ingredients. Mix until dough is formed. That easy. It's kinda shortbready :-)

The fun part comes with the additions. I separated the dough into batches. Since it made enough to feed a small army. In the first batch I added a cap full of peppermint extract and white chocolate chips! Topped them off with Peppermint Sprinkles. Very cooling bite. YUMMMMY!
The second batch I added Cranberrys and White Chocolate Chips.

To the third batch I squeezed the juice of 1 lemon and added some lemon zest. As soon as they came out of the oven I put them into a ziploc bag with confectioners sugar and more zest! Oh my, I bet you can feel your cheeks puckering up from the lemony goodness! LOL These babies are to die for. And if I ate them all I would! Which is why they are gifts :-) I can keep my snacking to a minimum!

The final touch was to cut some pieces of parchment paper, trimming the edges decoratively. I closed it with a label and then added the lemon cookies by folding them into a square of parchment paper. This way the powdered sugar doesn't get all over the other cookies. Adding a card with a recipe for the base cookie is a nice touch. Then I place the cookies in those Ziploc or Glad containers and tie it with Ribbon. I just wish you could taste these yummies.

These make great gifts. They show you care...and you cook! Nothing like Aunt NooNoos fruit cake.

Tomorrow I'm going to venture even further into Cookie Land. I love creating my own recipes and am thinking I can come up with something yummy or deadly LOL.
This is one of those things that I'm weak for. Ginger. I'd never seen Ginger Juice like this and thought it'd be great for a try. So I'm going to add it to a cookie recipe and see what happens. If you don't hear from me by Christmas, contact the recipe police. LOL

A Legend in My Living Room! :-) LOL LOL so now that that part of the night is over it's on to complete my last Youtube video of the year LOL. Which I plan to post tomorrow. Quick last minute gifts that are a joy to make and give! Oh... there's a big mess in the kitchen LOL. Dang!
:-) And I'm not done. Well done for tonight, more cookies tomorrow.

Ok so here's a little secret, if it's too close to gift giving time and you can't squeeze the recipe build in, you can probably buy those packages of already mixed sugar cookie dough and add your own goodies to it.

Forgot to mention that I did take a break today LOL. I drove this beautiful road. Mesmerized by the beautiful sky. This actually inspired me to get home and get those cookies done!
Hope you're having a yummy week too!

Big Holiday Hugs to you!

Oh Christmas tree, You fill my heart with music.

I have to tell you that I have met so many wonderful and kind people since I started my 'Spirit of Christmas Present' trip it's amazing. Today was no different. And as it always does, my mind went a wandering. Christmas Trees. Why? Who? When? Yep you guessed it. Investigate I did. I started my investigation at Moores Christmas Trees at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in the East Bay. Being that I'm a kid in an Artists Body what drew me there was the humongous Snow Man overlooking the Tree Lot like some giant Security Guard, a giant Smiling Security Guard. what drew me in was the beautiful lush trees and the wonderful smell of Christmas.
Many different countries claim to be the original location for the Christmas Tree. It would appear that whatever the story it has a lot to do with Germany. Many believe it "began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time." It appears it was in the 1800s when the Christmas Tree became custom in America. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania.

According to records in England, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria made Christmas trees fashionable by decorating the first English Christmas tree at Windsor castle with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits and gingerbread in 1841. Ornaments became widely popular in America in the the late 1800s. (This Tree belongs to my friends Lucy & Steve :-)

Fact: This song was originally written in German
O Tannenbaum!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

Well, you know you needed that information LOL LOL. Just kidding! Hope it brought a bit of Holiday Inspiration your way!

Moore's Christmas Trees has 3 huge Tree lots with beautiful
lush green and flocked trees.
They are located in San Ramon, Pleasanton and Castro Valley
And they are very nice people! Thank you! :-)

Oh let me answer a couple of questions I've received.

Yes...I am all about Networking and I love Small Business and 'Mom & Pop shops'
Yes... I am having a whole lotta fun!
Yes... I do love what I'm doing. It makes me smile and I hope it makes others smile as well.
Yes... I am a little off center. Aren't all Artists? I love it!
I love Vintage and Shiny stuff :-)
I'm planning to leave no block unturned in my search for the best lights and light displays in the East Bay this Christmas :-)

Love yall!

ON SANTA CLAUS LANE

I love being A Spirit of Christmas Present!

Today I went in search of the Christmas Wonderland that I'd briefly visited last year and had since forgotten where it was. My friend and I drove around, hitting back streets and roads until...viola! I'm a happy camper! Snow machine and all!

This house is run by people that are definitely full of Holiday Spirit. When we arrived there were plenty of young ones bouncing around with excitement and anticipation of Christmas to come. Don't worry, I didn't want to traumatize them so I did wait until they moved on before climbing into the Train for a quick pic LOL
These people really go all out for Christmas and Halloween (where they build a 13 room haunted house).


The Fun Continues!!!
Life is good!
I'm so confused I don't know where to start on my Canvas LOL!

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT

This year I am fortunate to be brimming over with Holiday Spirit! I say fortunate because it's a good thing! I'm silly with it and just want to soak in all of the fun, colorful and energetic spirit around me and then share it :-)

I truly do hope you're feeling the energy this year. I think we really do need it after the toss up we have all felt over the past couple of years. :-)

So anyway LOL, these are pics of my tree. I just love it!





These are some pics from my Christmas Village "Diviacityville!"

You can see lots of pics of this Village by watching the video in the previous post. I hope you're finding your Holiday Mojo! Please feel free to send me pics of your villages so I can share with others. diviacity@diviacity.com

Have a Great Day! Live in Color

Happy Holidays at Diviacityville!

Living in Color - in Milfleur!

Have you ever walked into a place that the moment you stepped through the door you felt wrapped in good energy? Like you actually took a momentary exhale? As you know, I leave home searching for Inspiration to share a lot. Not really searching because I always seem to walk into it, but I leave knowing that there is Inspiration to be had and shared. Today was no disappointment. I left the house to find my way to Mt. Diablo and take a couple of pictures. Not really impressed with snow (3 years in Reno cured me of that) but I knew there was beautiful pictures to be had!Anyway... I'm also working on a fun, almost therapeutic project (building a Table Top Christmas Village) so I thought I'd go out and get some ideas. Okay rewind...
My first stop was Longs Drugstore. And what a wonderful stop it was. As I dug through piles of Christmas Decorations and trimmings, thinking of landscaping ideas for my village I had the pleasure of meeting a lady named Debbie. Debbie introduced me to a store called Milfluer. She was so excited as she described it that I had to make my way over there. Wow. Owner, Terri Carlson has definitely put her heart, good spirit and dream into this place! A place in a building rich with History that's been standing for over 150 years. At one time it was the Jailhouse! and get this...the barred windows are still there! And believe me, the ladies working there have certainly filled this place with their good energy. No nasty ghostly feeling there. Check it out.

So much color, the smells were comforting and it was nice and warm which considering the fact that it was 40 degrees outside was very welcoming. And... yummy snowman cookies were there to greet me! :-)

Original jail window bars

So much color here! So much inspiration. Visions of Sugar Plums indeed!

If you need a unique Christmas ornament or decoration, Candles, gift items and more. This is definitely worth a visit. And they even gift wrap with lovelies and Pixie Dust!

This beautiful leafy creation was full of twinkly glass dragonflies and butterflies.

You know how much I love Color so you can only imagine how goofy I was in this place! LOL

These lovely ladies, Biddy and Deborah welcomed me and made me feel right at home. They were more than happy to fill me in on the history of the building and talk to me about all of the beautiful products. And I think I was actually in there for a good amount of time LOL.

Another stop of my Divalicous Holiday Spirit route. I'm happy that I was where I was, when I was and how I was. There are really still so many people out there with good energy and lots of spirit. I met a few today! :-) Thanks ladies. Happy Holidays. I'll be back!

If you're in the East Bay they are located at 200 Ray Street in Pleasanton. Their number is 925-600-0460. I can't wait to see what the next season brings in this wonderful place :-) I hear Fall colors come to life there.