This is my wonderful cousin, Jim! He's funny, great with kids and loves See's candy! We love Jim!!!!!!!

Be careful what you wish for, Jim! hee hee

When I joined the Secret Santa exchange in the Pub at Two Peas I wasn't expecting much. I was just feeling the holiday spirit and hoping to meet some nice people. WOW! What a positive experience this has been for me! I get to play Secret Santa to a very nice lady who's scrap work I admire very much, but I can't say too much about that yet as I haven't revealed myself yet.

What I can tell you is that I was treated "royally" by my Secret Santa.... er, I mean Elf. She went by the name of Karen Carters Chief Elf and even created a special email account just so we could chat without ruining the surprise. She really put a lot of effort into making this a wonderful event for me. She sent me a Starbucks card for Halloween, so she obviously knows the way to my heart. She sent me a beautiful tin filled with clues, which I posted photos of here already. We spent lots of time emailing one another, but she had to be more secretive so I wouldn't figure out who she was. Well, yesterday I received the "big gift" and let me tell you.... It was HUGE!!! I decided I would sit myself down in front of my xmas tree with the box, my laptop and my camera so that I could type to her as I opened each item and I took lots of pictures so she could feel like she was there with me. The photos are awful, but I was shaking and trying to take them myself so please excuse my goofy faces and blurry shots. Inside this box were so many items from my wish list and even more than I could have ever hoped for. I was literally shaking and my heart was racing as I opened the gifts. My favorite things were the things she made me. I am still floored that she found time to create these lovely gifts for me during the busiest time of the year. She embellished two round hat boxes with my favorite Blitzen papers and filled them with all kinds of fabulous goodies (Godiva chocolates included). She also made me a stunning mini book filled with good wishes and her thoughts on being my new friend. Inside the book was her identity and I was shocked! I wavered a couple of times on who I thought she may be, but in the end I was way off base. I guess I think I am a better detective than I really am. Anyway, I am so thrilled to know Patty now and to call her my friend. We have loads in common and the last item on my wish list is that I can meet her some day to hug her and thank her personally for the kindness and generosity she has shared with me. I called her on the phone today because I just wanted to hear her voice and tell her what a great thing she did. She probably thinks I'm some crazy nut because I was gushing over her so much, but I'm a bit sleep deprived today so I'm feeling extra chatty and goofy. If you are reading this, Patty... Thank you one more time!

Wendy posted this challenge on twoPeasInABucket.com, so I took her up on it. I think this answers all of her questions. : )

My name is Karen, but my husband calls me "Kuken". It means baby chicken... don't ask! I am 36 years old. I was born and raised in Southern California and I have never lived anywhere else. I have two gorgeous little boys and we are very excited to celebrate Christmas, although we are still sad that Halloween is over. Those are my two favorite holidays, so I do everything I can to get my children excited about them as well. We are starting some new holiday traditions this year by including one custom from our various heritages. We will introduce Sinterklaas to kick off the festivities on December 5th, we hang a German pickle ornament on the tree and the child who finds it wins a prize, etc. I started scrapbooking over 11 years ago and I have appeared on TV, been published in magazines and worked on design teams. (You can see all the details in one of my previous blog posts about my 15 minutes of fame.) My favorite food is jambalaya and gumbo from Ragin Cajun in Hermosa Beach. If I can't have that, I'll take a filet mignon, potatoes and asparagus with sauce. Of course, my favorite meal wouldn't be complete if I didn't finish it off with a Starbucks espresso drink and some chocolate. YUM!

I also stole this A to Z of Me from Jana's blog...
A-Age: 36
B-Bed size: California King
C-Chore you hate: folding and putting away laundry
D-Dessert you love: tiramisu
E-Essential start your day item: coffee with lots of flavored creamer
F-Favorite actor(s): Nicole Kidman & Anthony Hopkins
G-Gold or Silver: Platinum
H-Height: 5'6"
I-Instruments you play: not a single one
J-Job title: stay at home mommy
K-Kids: 2 boys
L-Living arrangements: Me, husband and our two little boys
M-Mom's name: Sharon
O-Overnight hospital stay other than birth: yes, I have severe asthma so there have been a few
P-Phobia: the dentist, thunder, heights, spiders, confined spaces, etc etc etc
Q-Quote you like: "Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and step out and dance—to live free of regret and filled with as much joy, fun, and laughter as you can stand." ~Oprah Winfrey
R-Right or left handed: right
S-Siblings: 3, I'm a middle child.
T-Time you woke up today: 8:30am
U-Unique habit: I am uncomfortable around new people so I talk too much.
V-Vegetable you hate: cilantro
W-Worst habit: Starbucks because it's expensive.
X-X-rays you've had: teeth, back, neck
Y-Yummy food you can make: I make lots of great stuff. (garlic chicken, chili, stew, BBQ beef, cheesy potatoes, tacos, on and on)
Z- Zodiac Sign: I am a true pisces.

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