The Silver Lining

Check This Out!

2011-07-18T13:30:00.000-07:00

Melissa at Create From the Heart is having a great 3rd blogaversary giveaway! You have until July 24 to enter.

Fruity!

2011-07-16T14:03:00.001-07:00

I have a table full of fruit, thanks to Bountiful Baskets. I had not tried sugar (or donut) peaches before. I now regret that I haven't tried them sooner. I was hoping to freeze some, but I'm not sure they will last that long. All this fruit makes me smile!

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My First Friends With Flair!

2011-06-03T18:25:00.001-07:00

Pebbles patterned paper, American Crafts cardstock, Unity stamp from Adventures in Happiness, everything else is unlabeled stuff from my stash.

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I finally decided to join Unity's Friends With Flair. So, I threw together a graduation card. I can't believe that I have 4 graduation cards to make this year! I guess that number is only going to increase each year now that we have a child in high school. After I made the card, I realized that I have no clue where my camera is. I've been cleaning in our office, and I think I put it in a safe place. It's so safe, that I don't remember, LOL! So, the photo was made with my phone. (I know...it's embarassing!) Since I've cleaned off my desk, I've been enjoying my sewing machine again. So much so, that it seems nothing looks "finished" without sewing. I really like how the card turned out, and I think my friend's daughter will enjoy it since her favorite color is pink. Now, I need to go make 3 more! Check out Unity's blog for more Friends With Flair and a chance to win some Unity stamps!

Homemade Embellishments

2011-05-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

So, the Counterfeit Kit Challenge has inspired me to make some of my own embellishments. The CKC blog has posted several tutorials. First up, I tried making the watermelons. They were really easy since I used my Cricut to cut out all the circles. The seeds on the watermelon "flower" were made using the bird punch from Stampin' Up (they are the leaves from the branch). I used the Cricut once again to cut letters from printed cardstock. The Cricut is a great tool for making embellishments! I didn't even come close to utilizing it to its potential!

Next, I tried making my own Baker's Twine from crochet thread and markers. I had a really difficult time getting the color even. While this would work, my perfectionism will have me ordering the real stuff once I use up what I've made.

I also had mixed results making my own washi tape. I think it was more of a trial and error to find out what works on different types of tape. The paper tape was my favorite. It took color better and dried faster. The masking tape was more difficult to color and took longer to dry. It was a good project to work on while I was watching TV. Since neither of these are acid free, I'll only be using this on cards and altered items.

So, I think that fabric buttons may be my new addiction. I used a gift card to buy a few supplies. I decided to buy some white patterned fabric. I tested dying the fabric and was happy to discover that the pattern became more pronounced! I used spray mists (from Maya Road and Tattered Angels). I also used ink pads to color the fabric after I had dampened it. I'm excited that the few scraps of fabric that I purchased will be able to work on a variety of projects since I can use supplies I already have to dye it the desired color!

It definitely saves money to make my own embellishments, which leave me money for more paper! So, that definitely makes me happy!

May Counterfeit Kit

2011-05-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

So, I spent most of National Scrapbook Day getting my May Counterfeit Kit together. Well, really I didn't spend most of the day, I just spent most of my crafty time. I didn't put in very many embellishments. I figure that I can grab what I need as I'm doing projects. I did try to pull out of couple of things that have been in my stash for quite a while: Li'l David Journaling Pockets and Bazzill coin envelopes and fabric brads. Other embellishments include Echo Park Alphabet Stickers and Journaling Cards, Autumn Leave and Oriental Trading Company stamps, Crafter's Square flowers and trims (from the Dollar Tree), and some shipping tags.

I was happy that this month's inspiration kit was smaller. I think it's just the right size for me since it seems that my monthly page totals can be counted with my fingers. I chose quite a mix of patterned papers from GCD, My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey, Echo Park, Doodlebug, and Club Scrap. I made one sheet of patterned paper (the wavy one inspired by the Basic Grey paper in the inspiration kit). The cardstock is American Crafts and Prism (still working on using up what I have left of that).

I'm hoping to have time this weekend to start using the kit. I'd like to try some of the challenges that I saw posted last weekend. I saw a few that will stretch my creativity. In the meantime, I have been trying out making some of my own embellishments, so I will be posting about that sometime soon!

Game Night

2011-05-04T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have another layout that I did as part of the Counterfeit Kit Mini Challenge. My inspiration came from Jessica. It was a quick and easy layout to put together. These days, I need quick and easy! I made the photo corners from a square frame that I cut in half.

Supplies used: American Crafts cardstock, Paper Studio patterned paper, Doodlebug and Bo Bunny alphabet stickers, misc. buttons, ribbon, and bling.

Armpit Acres

2011-04-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

Armpit Acres is the name of my Dad's "little patch of heaven"--about 25 acres that he calls home. It's a very different from the city life that my children are accustomed to. When we visited last summer, I decided to take some photos of the area.

This layout is for a challenge on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog. The challenge was to get inspiration from one of the design team members. So much inspiration available, but I chose Melissa. I really liked how she included 5 photos without the layout seeming crowded. I also liked that I could make a whole layout and not use a whole lot of patterned paper (even though I'm nowhere close to using all the paper in my kit). I used minimal embellishments because I really wanted to photos to stand out. The butterfly was made by stamping on a transparency and then using Stickles for the glitter (thanks to the tutorial posted on CKC earlier this month).

Most products were from my own Counterfeit Kit: American Crafts cardstock, Basic Grey patterned paper, We R Memory Keepers and Bo Bunny stickers, Prima flower, Close To My Heart, Bo Bunny, and Unity stamps, Stickles, Colorbox ink, and misc. button and ricrac.

Ewe Are Loved

2011-04-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

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I guess I left my camera in the car that my husband took to work. At least I hope it's there because the alternative would be that I left it in Phoenix. Anyway, I had to use my phone to take this photo so I could get this posted today. I used some SVG files from Lettering Delights. I got the directions for this treat tube from Split Coast Stampers. I used my Counterfeit Kit again too!

Supplies used: My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey, Piggy Tales patterned papers; American Crafts cardstock; Colorbox Ink; Tim Holtz embossing folder; Lettering Delights Pucker Up (sun), Love Pets (sheep), and Accordion Fold Flowers (grass); and misc. ribbon.

Challenging!

2011-04-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

So I thought making my own Counterfeit Kit was a challenge until I tried using the kit. Then, I found using my own kit to be a challenge! It really wasn't too bad, I just had to control myself when I wanted to stray from the kit too much. I am pleased with how it turned out, so all's well that ends well!

Products used: My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Cosmo Cricket journaling card, American Crafts cardstock, Fancy Pants (I think) chipboard, Heidi Swapp stamp, Colorbox ink, Tattered Angels glimmer mist, Pebbles acrylic paint, misc. buttons and ribbon.

April Counterfeit Kit

2011-04-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

So, it's taken me 3 days, but I finally got a kit together for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. This month's inspiration can be seen at Front Porch Kits. I actually have some of that Echo Park paper sitting in an online shopping cart, and while it was tempting to pay for it and wait on it, the idea of a counterfeit kit is to use what I already have. So, it's still sitting in the shopping cart (yay me!).

My kit:

Papers are from My Mind's Eye, DCWV, Cosmo Cricket, The Paper Studio, Basic Grey, and Club Scrap (that has probably been in my stash 5 years); American Crafts and Basic Grey cardstock; misc. ribbons, flowers, buttons, and chipboard; stamps from Unity, American Crafts, Fancy Pants, and Close to My Heart; Stampin' Up bird punch. I added in some chipboard that I can cut into any other shapes that I might need. I forgot to pull out my stickles before I took the photo, but I'm sure I'll be using them. I haven't found anything to replace Hank the Plank, but later I might add something to alter.

Once I clean up my mess, I'll be ready to create!

A Quick Challenge

2011-04-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

I made a quick card for a challenge at Crazy About Cricut . The paper is Doodlebug, the cardstock is American Crafts. I don't remember where the flower came from, but I have a whole stack of them and have only used this one! Feels good to be using what I have!

Two in one week....no fooling!

2011-04-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the last time I actually completed two layouts in one week! Thanks to sketches and challenges I'm getting back on track! I had everything all glued down and decided I couldn't handle all the white, so I pulled out the glimmer mist! I just used some scrap paper to mask out the photos while I was spraying. By the way, this another challenge completed at the last minute. Thanks to
Paper Patch Crafts for the inspiration!

Products used: Dream Street and Doodlebug patterned papers (both from my scrap pile), BoBunny and CTMH stamps, Tim Holtz tickets, Prima paper flowers, Tattered Angels glimmer mist, everything else is misc. stuff from my stash.

Last minute and beyond...

2011-03-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right?

I decided to use the sketch posted at UmWowStudio to jump start my layouts again. It's been so long since I've done any layouts! It was nice to finally get one in the book. However, the challenge ends tonight, and here it is just after 9 pm PST before I'm getting anything posted! The pattern down the side was made with white ink and bubble wrap. What a fun technique!

All products used were from my stash: Pebbles patterned paper, American Crafts cardstock, Making Memories glitter alpha stickers, Studio G white ink, Heidi Swapp arrow, Fiskars border punch, Creative Memories journaling block, misc. ribbon.

Anniversary card

2011-03-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

My husband appreciates a humorous card more than a serious one. And, since I did a more serious one for Valentine's day, I decided to search the internet for a funny quote. I found one that I thought he would truly appreciate. It's a simple card, but he doesn't care how intricate it is, so it's perfect for him. He enjoyed it, and I think that laughing together helped us stay together 15 years!

Cheesy Garlic Rolls

2011-03-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

The girls and I are making spaghetti for dinner. My family thinks that you can't have spaghetti without garlic. So, we are baking these:

The recipe is from Our Best Bites which happens to be a favorite of mine! I even used white whole wheat and they still turned out great!

Cheesy Garlic Bread Swirls

Recipe by Our Best Bites

French Bread Dough:
1 Tbsp. yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
4-5 1/2 c. flour
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 egg yolk

Garlic Butter:
1/2 c. (1 stick) of real butter, no substitutions
1 1/2 Tbsp. garlic bread seasoning (Recipe follows)

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Combine yeast, water, and sugar in large mixing bowl and allow to stand 10 minutes or until bubbly. Add salt, vegetable oil, and egg yolk (set white aside for later) and combine. Add 3 c. flour and mix well until combined. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough that barely sticks to your finger. Knead, either by hand or in mixer (my personal and very lazy choice) for another 2-3 minutes. Cover and allow to rise 1 hour.

While dough is rising, combine butter and garlic bread seasoning. Set aside.

Now…here’s a little trick I’ve been using a lot lately. If you spray a little non-stick cooking spray on your work surface and your rolling pin, your dough won’t stick and clean-up is super easy!

Anyway, roll your rough into a rectangle that’s about 18-20 inches by 6 inches. Smear garlic butter over the entire surface of the dough and then sprinkle with cheese.

Roll up jelly-roll style and then use dental floss to cut into 12 equal slices. Place each slice in a muffin tin. Cover with a clean cloth. Preheat oven to 350 and allow rolls to rise while the oven is heating.

When the oven is ready, bake for 18-22 minutes.

You’re going to need to keep a CLOSE eye on these puppies during the last 10 minutes or so–once you notice the cheese getting brown, place a sheet of aluminum foil over the rolls (you don’t need to press it down or anything, just lay it on top). This will keep the cheese from burning, although it will get pretty brown on top. It’s okay, though, because the insides are still all ooey-gooey.

Garlic Bread Seasoning

Recipe from Our Best Bites

1/2 c. powdered Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. Kosher salt
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. basil
2 tsp. marjoram
2 tsp. parsley

Combine ingredients in a jar (preferably one with a sprinkle top) and shake. Sprinkle on top of breadsticks or combine 1 1/2 Tbsp. seasoning with 1/2 c. of softened real butter and spread on a loaf of French bread (cut in 1/2 lengthwise). Wrap in foil and bake at 375 until butter's melted. If you want, you could also pop it open-faced under the broiler for a few minutes so it gets brownish and crispy.

Online Crop

2010-11-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Trying to figure out what to do with yourself this weekend now that the harvest festivals are over, all your leaves are raked, and it's too early to start cooking for Thanksgiving? Come play at Crop Chocolate for a 48 hour online crop November 6 and 7, 2010!

All you need to participate in the Online Crop and to be eligible for the prizes is to have an active Crop Chocolate account with a valid e-mail address (if you're signing up for the first time, please let them know I sent you by leaving my e-mail address in the referral: jtaylorsmom at yahoo dot com). It will be part shopping, part crafting, part challenges, and completely fun! Come play to win some prizes, complete some projects (layouts, cards, altered items--you know, finally use up some of your stash, and have some fun! There will also be some fun mini-games and activities going on under the Sweet Talk section of the website throughout the weekend, so make sure to stop by Sweet Talk and check them out too.

Can't make it for the whole weekend? No worries! The main challenges will be posted beginning on Saturday November 6th at 10:00 AM on the main page and it will alternate a challenge, then a SWEET deal, then another challenge, etc. If you miss a challenge on the main page they are always accessible under the "past deals" section of the website. The deadline for the submission of projects to be considered for prizes for the challenges is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2010 11:59 PM MST (Crop Chocolate local time) unless an earlier deadline is stated. That is approximately 24 hours after the crop ends. The challenges will be posted between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM on Saturday Nov 6th and 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Sunday Nov 7th.

Summer, Summer, Summer

2010-08-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Being a musical person, I relate my life to song lyrics. And, I tend to burst into song whenever those lyrics pop into my head. When I think about this summer, "Magic" by The Cars pops into my head....

     Summer, it turns me upside down
     Summer, summer, summer
     It's like a merry-go-round

So while I've been upside down on the merry-go-round, I've taken a little break from the blog world. As I see the end of summer break approaching, I'm itching to get back to some of the things I've set aside.

I thought I would start by posting my July card for a card exchange group that I'm in. I got the basic idea for this card from a magazine. I didn't purchase the magazine, and I don't remember which one it was in. I just stored the idea away in my mind. When my Tim Holtz embossing folders arrived in the mail, I knew exactly what I was going to do!

Prism cardstock, Ribbon FX and Ribbon Boutique ribbons, Decorative Trims ric rac, Colorbox and Close to my Heart Inks, Tim Holtz embossing folders

Enjoy this day!

Scenes from Texas

2010-07-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

Just a few photos from my parent's place. Dad has donkeys to help keep coyotes and dogs away from their property. I don't know if the donkeys found a friend or if the deer adopted the donkeys. But, in the mornings and evenings you can usually find this deer with them.

Mom and Dad have a hummingbird feeder haging in their front yard. One evening when we were sitting outside, a hummingbird came to eat. There is actually a second hummingbird in the area, but the first one chases the other one away. I couldn't capture any of that on film, they are really quite quick!

If it's not raining tomorrow, maybe I'll be able to get some photos of the cards I made at craft night with Mom. If was difficult crafting without only limited supplies!

Signs of an Addicted Scrapper

2010-07-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

I won't talk about more paper than I care to think about. I won't talk about embellishments that I don't even remember that I have. I especially won't talk about all the time I spend reading and perusing crafting blogs! I won't talk about all the photos waiting for a home in a scrapbook. I won't talk about using every inch of available storage for tools. I will remain in denial that those might be signs that I'm an addicted scrapper!

Instead of talking about those things, I'll tell you a story. I'll even go so far as to say, "It's the story of a lovely lady. (who didn't want to be bored all afternoon)" My son went to Adventuredome with his school. For those of you that don't know, Adventuredome is an indoor amusement park at Circus Circus. Since he had a friend with him, he didn't need Mom around to ride rides or hover. So, when I decided to plan a boredom-free afternoon...an afternoon in which I didn't care to leave any earlier than my son did. I thought about those long tables in the group area. I thought about how nice it would be to spend the afternoon scrapping on one of those long tables. It wasn't really feasible to drag a huge bag of supplies out to Adventuredome, so I decided to pack some card kits. I took some card kits, my paper trimmer, and some adhesive. I wish I had also taken an ink pad or two, but I'm still happy with the end result. These kits were quick and easy with easy-to-follow instructions. I must admit that I was surprised to see them at an LSS for $17 when Memory Works sells them for $10. Here is all that I completed in between checking on the boys, eating lunch, and getting a little exercise.

The next time you see waiting in your future, pack up a card kit and fight the boredom! If you're feeling really adventurous, you could make your own card kits! A few supplies and a little bit of space and boredom becomes productive!

Christmas in July Winner!

2010-07-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the kind comments and for sharing your handmade gift ideas!

That means the winner is Tracee! E-mail me jtaylorsmom at yahoo dot com with your info!

Edited to add: I tried to use the random number widget, but I couldn't get it working. I'm going to blame that on being on someone else's computer. But, the number that showed up was 22.

Christmas in July!

2010-07-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Memory Works Christmas in July blog hop! Be sure to visit each blog to have chances to win more goodies. If you arrived here from Noelle's blog, then you are on the right track. If you didn't or if you've gotten lost along the way, you can start at Sue's blog.

For my project, I decided to make a stationary box. I give card sets as Christmas presents, and I like the presentation of providing a box. This one even includes a small address book, a spot for a pen, and a pocket for stamps as well as cards and tags. If you are interested in making your own, check out the instructions here.

Basic Grey patterned papers, American Crafts and Prism cardstock,

Making Memories stickers, misc. stamps and embellishments.

If you would like a chance to win this project, please leave a comment telling me about a crafty item you've given as a gift. Be sure to check back Monday to see if you are a winner. This giveaway is open to U.S. participants only. Next, hop on over to Rosann's blog to see what she has in store for you! Don't miss out on any of the blogs and their giveaways!

Sue
Liz
Wendy
Lynn
Sharon
Noelle
Shelley (You are here.)
Rosann
Jenn
Maryann
Luisa
Lisa
Mariah

I hope you have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Coming Soon!

2010-06-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to a blog near you! Be sure and check in over the holiday weekend (July 2 - July 4). Each person participating in the hop will have a giveaway on their blog. I hope you find the time to seek out some inspiration and get a jump start on all those Christmas projects!

Summer Purging

2010-06-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

Since it's officially summer, I'll have to go with summer purging instead of spring cleaning! I get together with friends once a week for craft night. I have a huge stash of stuff that I share with them. There is definitely more than enough to go around! Each summer, while my children are visiting their grandparents, I pull out all of my stuff and purge. This year is no different. I am getting rid of all the stuff that I don't use and really don't even look through! My craft night peeps will be able to do some "shopping" this weekend! I have a little peek for them.

This is a photo of a TV armoire that I use for scrapbook storage. It holds most of my tools, and now it even has a lot of my embellies. Anway, enjoy the peek (you know who you are)!

Locks of Love

2010-06-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

When my daughters were going through a Hannah Montana phase, they both decided that they wanted hair that was as long as hers. They didn't seem to understand or care that she was wearing a wig. My youngest found out that as her hair grew, it was more difficult to take care of. She has really thick hair, and she couldn't even come close to getting out all the tangles when it was long. So, she recently decided that it was time to get it cut. We discussed how short she wanted it. Then, it occurred to me, that she probably had enough hair to donate. We measure it, and she had more than the 10 inches required. I told her about Locks of Love. She decided to donate her hair. So, we I had to take some photos of the haircut and a picture of her holding her hair that will be donated. She is very happy with her hair now. She can brush it herself, and I think she even picked up a little sassy to go with the short hair!

Congrats Card #1

2010-06-12T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of 3 graduation cards that I need to make. This one came together pretty quickly thanks to the June Express Kit . I was pretty happy that I was able to use the kit the same week that I received it! I haven't done that in quite a while.

I wanted to use chipboard letters for dimension, but I didn't have any that matched. So I took some letters that were way to bright and added some distress ink (olive) and Maya Mist in bronze. I used a paper towel to soak up the excess mist. I am quite pleased with the finished look!

I also made my own envelope since I made an odd-sized card. The card is a tri-fold type that was made to hold cash--the perfect grad gift!

Supplies used: My Mind's Eye patterned paper, Basic Grey ribbon and letter stickers (on the envelope but doesn't show in the photo), Pebbles Candy Dots, Pink Paislee chipboard letters, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Maya Mist, From my stash I used some misc. cardstock, unknown patterned paper and silk flowers for the envelope.

Summer

2010-06-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

I guess I am in a summer funk as far as creativity goes. We have been busy these past 2 weeks, so that probably has something to do with it! Also, I'm hoping to have some organizing time while the children are visiting their grandparents. Nothing like organizing to get the creative juices flowing--I seem to always "find" things that I forgot I had in the first place. For now, I'll share the photo of my 8th grade graduate. It's proof that he (and I) survived 1 1/2 years of online school!

Color Me Creative!

2010-06-02T08:39:00.000-07:00

I thought this Color Test was interesting. It predicts your personality based on colors that you like and don't like.

You are 48 % extrovert and 52 % introvert. (I guess Scott is rubbing off on me!)

Independently of any order of importance :

You are creative, you always have new ideas, and your inspiration comes from the inside.

You are also strong-willed and active, your actions are determined by your own will, by the goals you settled for yourself, and by your need to act and to move forward.

Finally you are a manager and a structured person, you know how to take into account the needs of each person while leading them towards the set goals.

Your understanding of your environment :

At first, at 39%, you are attached to moral values and feelings, and you have an emotional relation with the environment.

Then, at a ratio of 33%, you are focused on the facts and on the reality, and your decisions are determined by your perception of facts.

Finally, at 26%, you are centered on your thoughts and your actions are determined by your knowledge and your experience.

How you assert yourself :

In your relations with others, your inspiration and your creativity, your artistic or spiritual impulse have an influence of 54%. Also your family and personal ties interfere (haha, they're getting in the way!) at 45%.
Also, your actions are determined by your will and your personal goals at a ratio of 59%. In 40% of the cases you take into account your own sensibility and your partner’s.

Finally, your point of view and your decision-making are motivated by your inner conviction at 59%. Dialogue and exchange of views with others are taken into account at 40%.

The qualities that characterize your personality at this time :
Your creativity: 22% you are creative, you know how to see beauty, you are intuitive and your inspiration comes from the inside.

Your energy: 20% you are strong-willed and active (who, me?), your actions are determined by your own will, by the goals you settled to yourself, and by your need to act and move ahead.

Your imagination: 20% you are a creative person, with always new ideas, and you know how to apply them.

Your management skills: 18% you are a manager and a structured person (can organized chaos be considered structure?), you know how to take into account the needs of each person while leading them to the fixed goals.

Your emotional intelligence: 17% you are thoughtful and capable of listening to others, you take into account the needs of others before setting up the defined objectives.

Finally, You are (I like this part) intellectual and intelligent, you wonder and you inquire before taking any action and setting your values, you are a manager and a leader, and you know how to organize groups of people and how to give them your energy.

Drumroll, please!

2010-05-31T23:27:00.000-07:00

The winner of the recipe album is

ME... said...
so very cute!

The winner of the calendar is

naomie said...
im lovin the colors of the recipie book..especially that you used black..your an awesome scrapbooker.. i love the inspiration that you give to others..loving the calender..thats a conversation starter..

Thanks so much for all the kind comments! Winners, contact me with your mailing info, and I will get your prize to you.

Let's get hopping!

2010-05-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Memory Works Backyard Blog Hop! If you came here from Lynn's blog, then you are on the right track. If you did not, be sure to start at Sue's blog. You don't want to miss out on any great inspiration or giveaways!

For the hop, I decided to make a recipe album. Cooking/baking is me second love, so I thought it would be fun to have a small album that I could use in the kitchen. You could even add more index cards or make your own (like I did). I used one of my new favorite products, a 6x6 paper pad. This one happens to be Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety. The papers are so sun, and I love the colors! I also used a Garden Variety cardstock sticker. The flower is Creative Imaginations and the letter stickers are Making Memories. The ribbons are just some from my stash. The cover I made from cutting down 2 pages of a Cosmo Cricket blackboard album. I still have plenty of pages left for another album!

I was feeling so inspired by this hop, that I decided to make another project! This one is also for a contest which I will post about next week. I really enjoy making calendars. They make great gifts at Christmas! This one is made from toilet paper rolls. The tags could be used for keeping track of important dates like birthdays and anniversaries or for journaling important facts from each month.

I used the Basic Grey Green at Heart 6x6 paper pad for this one. The 6x6 paper is perfect for toilet rolls because it will wrap all the way around, and it's a little wider. So when you cut off the extra width, you then have paper to use for layering or embellishing. When I started this album, I was regretting that I hadn't ordered any of the coordinating embellishments. One thing that I like about mini albums is that I can use all leftover bits and pieces that I already have. I cut several things with the Cricut too. For the flower on the cover, I took a white chipboard flower, misted it with Tattered Angels Mist, and then painted on the Rock Candy Crackle Paint. The mist wasn't quite dry when I painted it, and I like the resulting effect. I also used Tattered Angels Mist on some of the white Petaloo flowers. I misted in several different colors and those are on a couple of pages in the album.

Being inspired also makes me feel generous, so today I'm giving away both projects that I made! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment and be sure to check back next Tuesday to see if you are a winner! Feel free to become a follower so you don't miss out on winning! The giveaway is open to everyone--even our international friends.

Your next stop on the hop is Rosann . While you're hopping, be sure to check out Memory Work's own line Simple Stories. Scrapping has never been easier or so guilt-free! Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Digging Around

2010-05-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

As I was going through some of my treasures, I came across this envelope book. I made it for a challenge last summer, but I don't think I've posted it on my blog.

I used Fancy Pants patterned papers and journaling cards. The journaling cards are the tags inside the pockets in the book. This project is easy enough that I can make it with my daughters.

Family

2010-05-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about my family this week because Dad will get back some test results on Wednesday. So, I thought I would share this layout of my sister and I.

Several years ago, I realized that, as the photographer, I was missing from all our photos. With some inspiration from my sister-in-law, I decided to start taking photos of myself. My children fell in love with the concept of taking photos of themselves! Occasionally, I can get other family members to indulge me as well. I decided that my sister and I needed to do a self-portrait together. Apparently, she couldn't handle the flash so close to her face, so she had a couple of funny faces. My comment was, "Well, at least I look good!" Her birthday is in July, and I think she might need some photos of us!

I used the November 2009 and scraps from the January 2010 Express Kits and felt Thickers.

Amusing myself

2010-05-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I am easily amused. On a recent visit to a local stamp store, I found a stamp that amused me. It was only $1, so I thought I could surely get enough use out of it to justify spending a $1. When my friends saw this stamp, some of them were amused like I was and some were wondering why on earth I would ever buy a stamp like that. So, I had to incorporate this stamp into my card for our card club!

The inside reads, "Just for you! Happy birthday!" I used several different papers on this card: Little Yellow Bicycle, Crate Paper, and Basic Grey. The cardstock is from my stash. There's a paper clip and some twill ribbon that also came from my stash. The ink is Colorbox Chalk Ink. My friends were excited that I actually sewed on the card. We had a good laugh because I own two sewing machines (one is small so that I can take it with me for scrapping), and I don't know how to hem! Anyway, I feel I've already gotten my dollar's worth out of the stamp, so anything from here on out is just gravy!

Weekend fun!

2010-05-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

I went digging through my stash and pulled out some things that I hope to use this weekend. I'm working on a project for the Memory Works blog hop (which starts next Friday). And, just in case you're worried, I actually have a few projects in mind, so I tried to pull out things to use on all of them. I hope all os us can have a creative and productive weekend!

A Weekend Away

2010-05-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

It was a blessing to be able to attend a weekend crop! I was able to accomplish so much, and it is so relaxing to take a break from the responsibilities of home! Through the wonders of internet and a laptop, I was able to easily keep in touch with my hubby. On that Friday, I spent the entire day working on a project for church. I was able to complete everything that I had at that time. I'm still waiting on a few things to add to the book, but it will be out of my hands at the end of this month. It was a relief to get that all behind me!

Saturday, I worked on layouts for me. I was trying to use some kits I have neglected. I love the Memory Works Express kits! I enjoy the mix of patterned papers and embellishments, and it's really easy to complete a layout since I have everything I need in one place. (It also made it really easy to pack for a weekend of cropping!) This is the March 2010 kit. I made my own journaling block because I didn't have one that was the right size or color. The stamp is from Unity.

My son is quite the entreprenuer. He's always thinking of things he can do to make money. Of course he thinks all his ideas will be a fast track to lots of money. When he was younger, he really enjoyed selling lemonade at his grandparent's house. They lived in a generous neighborhood! Once, he even woke up early enough to sell Kona coffee to anyone who was on their way to work.

By Sunday, I think I was overwhelmed. I spent the day mounting some rubber stamps onto cling foam so that I could use them with my acrylic blocks. All in all, it was quite a productive weekend, and I'm happy that I went! Now, I just need to get everything unpacked!

Busy, busy!

2010-05-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

May has been a busy month! I started off the month with a relaxing weekend of scrapping. I'm hoping to get those photos taken and uploaded this week.

After my relaxing weekend, we had a "Guys Craft Night". It was really a card making class for the men in our small group. They made Mother's Day cards for their wives. (They also planned a great Mother's Day lunch for all of us!) It was fun helping the guys get out of their comfort zone and craft. It was also fun to see them get creative and put their own touches on their cards!

Here's the proof they actually made their own cards. They are all working so diligently!

Joe's card and homemade envelope. (The Crafter's Companion makes those envelopes a breeze!)
Lawrence was so impressed with the envelopes, that he tore open his plain one and made one for his card!

I was too slow in photo taking and only got 2nd Scott's envelope.

Here is the card and envelope that I received. It was difficult trying to take a photo and not look at the card!

Here are the happy recipients of the cards. We are happy that we received handmade cards and especially happy that we didn't have to cook or clean up lunch!

May's Recipe

2010-05-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

This recipe comes from Picky Palate . I love cinnamon rolls, so I definitely had to try this one. It also helps that I have a pile of bananas that are ready for being baked. I will have to admit that the French bread dough is not my favorite. My rolls came out looking nothing like hers, but they were definitely yummy! I think the next time I try this, I'll be using a homemade dough. Also, I was out of parchment paper, so I made sure that I sprayed my glass baking dish. The rolls didn't stick at all.

Roasted Banana Cinnamon Rolls

2 ripe bananas cut into 1/4 inch slices
2 Tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 roll Pillsbury French Bread Loaf
4 Tbsp. softened butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 c. powdered sugar
3-4 Tbsp. heavy cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place banana slices and cut up pieces of butter into a small baking dish. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. brown sugar and bake for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes. Next, use a fork to smash roasted bananas until well combined.

Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Unroll French bread dough into rectangle. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Place dollops of roasted banana mixture evenly over top. Starting from long end, roll up into log shape. Using a sharp knife, cut 1 inch slices and placde onto a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until just turning golden brown. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.

Whisk powdered sugar and heavy cream until combined; drizzle over top of warm rolls. Makes 12 rolls.

Card club

2010-04-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

So, my friends and I decided it would be fun to start a card club. We were a little overwhelmed with the thought of too many cards, so there are 4 1/2 of us. (The half is really poking fun at one friend who only joins us on occasion.) I went a little Cricut crazy. After I cut everything out and glued it to the card, I didn't have room for much else. I tried adding ribbon--that didn't work. So, I gave up because I wanted it to be a card that could be used for guys. I did use Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to pop up the stars. Love that stuff! Hopefully they will like them anyway!

Hello, Chick!

2010-04-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

My daughters can be quite the cardmakers. They can craft and scrapbook faster than I can keep up with helping them! My youngest picked a card out of a magazine. We used some scrap papers we had, and I used the cricket to cut out the yellow parts of the chick. I thought it turned out really cute--especially for a seven-year-old!

A couple of projects

2010-03-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

I've actually made some time to work on a few projects lately. The book is actually a calendar. It is my first time to use my Bind-It-All, and I am now totally addicted! I need to order some more o-wires, but I think my next project is going to be a 12x12 album.

I've decided that it's probably a good thing that I don't have a dedicated space for crafting. I don't think I would ever get anything else done or ever clean up my crafty mess!

I found some cute projects at U Create that I would like to try. They involve sewing, and although my sewing skills are not great, I think they might be easy enough even for me!

Hope you are having a great weekend! I think it's time to start getting ready for craft night!

Birthday Card

2010-03-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

I'm finally getting around to posting a card I made two weeks ago. It was for a friend's birthday. She loved it! It is a total scraplift of a card in the CTMH Originals book. I use that book often for card ideas. It was already dark out when I took the photo, so the colors are a little off. The patterned paper (I think) is from a set I bought from Oriental Trading Co. The fastener has been in my stash forever because it's from Lil' Davis. The stamp is from The {Stamps} of Life . Everything else is just random stuff from my stash and scrap pile. I even pulled out the sewing machine for the stems! I hope to get a few more cards made this week, and maybe it won't take me two weeks to get them posted.

February's Favorite Recipe

2010-03-02T18:57:00.000-08:00

This was a big hit at my house! I used Frank's Red Hot Sauce for the wing sauce. It wasn't too spicy for the girls. Everyone made sure that I knew they liked it!

Buffalo Chicken and Potatoes

1 1/4 lb. boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/3 c. buffalo wing sauce
6 c. frozen (thawed) southern-style hash brown potatoes
1 c. ranch or bleu cheese dressing (I used the ranch)
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 can condensed cream of celery soup (I had cream of chicken, so I used that)
1/2 c. corn flake crumbs
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
1/4 c. chopped green onions (left these off because of my picky men)

1. Heat oven to 350. Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In medium bowl, stir together chicken strips and wing sauce.
3. In large bowl, stir together potatoes, dressing, cheese, and soup. Spoon into baking dish. Place chicken strips in single layer over potato mixture.
4. In small bowl, stir together crumbs and butter. Sprinkle in baking dish.
5. Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes; uncover and bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until potatoes are tender and juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut. Sprinkle with green onions.

Other flavors: you can replace the wing sauce with teriyaki, sweet and sour, or barbecue sauce.

You can also omit the chicken and wing sauce for a side dish.

The recipe is from the Betty Crocker web site.

SEI Paper

2010-03-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

So, I spend lots of time reading blogs. I guess you can tell since I'm posting about another giveaway! Obsessed With Scrapbooking has lots of great ideas about using your Cricut cartridges. She is giving away an SEI paper pack that is gorgeous! Good luck!

Prima

2010-02-28T16:46:00.000-08:00

I love free stuff, and I guess that is a major motivator for me posting to my blog! Prima is about to make a big announcement, but in the meantime, they are having a great giveaway! If I don't win, it would be great if someone I knew won!

Finally!

2010-02-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to sit down and make some scrapbook pages for me. These are a little simple, but it was a great feeling to get something accomplished for me! The first page was made with the February MemoryWorks Express kit and was made for a photo inspiration challenge. These are pics from the hospital when Allison was born.

The next one is made with the October MemoryWorks Express kit. I prefer coming up with "homemade" costumes rather than buying them. I guess I enjoy the creative process in many different outlets!

It has been so long since I've done any projects for myself, that I actually had 6 kits that I had just filed away to use later. I'm trying to get some of them used so I don't feel guilty keeping my subscription!

It's So Easy!

2010-02-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

I just received My Simple Stories kit from Memory Works. The kit has so many different possibilities, and I am excited to get started. I'm hoping to get some photos picked out this week! In the meantime, check here for a video and explanation of the kit. On February 21, there will be a blog hop featuring My Simple Stories.

Now, I'm off to be creative!

Here's What's Cooking!

2010-02-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

I try new recipes all the time. I probably average a new one a week. So, I've decided that I need to keep a list of our favorite recipes during the year. If I have a list, maybe I won't forget about them. And, they will be easy to access anytime someone asks for the recipe. If I'm feeling really productive I can put together a little cookbook at the end of the year!

So, this is the recipe that is Scott's favorite from January. I found it on RecipeZaar which is one of my favorite sights for finding new recipes! I did not put onions in it because Scott and Taylor don't like onions, but I bet it would be really good with onions! Also, you could make it spicier or less spicy depending on the kind of tomatoes that you use. Enjoy!

Ranch Style Beans (AKA Cowboy Beans)

1 lb. dry pinto beans
8 cups water
1 medium onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can diced tomatoes and green chiles

Place beans in a dutch oven; add water 2 inches above beans. Bring to a boil, boil 1 minute. Cover and remove from heat and let stand 1 hour. Drain. Bring beans and 8 cups water to a boil in dutch oven. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours until beans are tender. Add onion and the next 7 ingredients. Simmer 30 minutes. Add tomatoes. Simmer 30 minutes and serve.

You Feel Good

2009-07-18T10:14:00.001-07:00

Allison has said some really cute things recently. Here's an e-mail that was sent to me by my mother-in-law:

Allison asked last night, "When am I going to see my Mommy and Daddy?"

I said, "I think next week."

She thought for a minute, and then said, "I don't remember what they look like. I think my Daddy doesn't have a beard."

Can I just keep her?

That happened right at the end of the three-week stay in Texas. It's funny how she thought she had forgotten what we looked like. She was staying in houses where there are photos of us. When she finally got to see me, she ran up and gave me a big hug. Then she told me, "You feel good."

Taylor is old enough that he doesn't want to admit that he misses us. However, he spent a good portion of the afternoon leaning/lying on me while watching TV. It's not cool to miss Mom when you're almost 13. And, he sure doesn't want to admit that he needs Mom!

Katie is on the fence. She's a very relational person, so it's difficult to not admit that you miss Mom. But, on the other hand, she very much wants to be like her brother. And if he can pretend to not miss Mom, then so can she! She wanted to stay longer--by herself--but Scott told her that he missed her too much. That was enough consolation to bring her home with a good attitude.

No matter how old you are, a hug from Mom or Dad always feels good. Sometimes we're just too old or stubborn to admit it!

Free is cheap enough

2009-07-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

Scott's family has a saying, "Free is cheap enough." So, I get lost in the blog world entering drawings for free stuff. Now, I'm not a lucky person. But, I guess I can hope that one day my luck will change, and I will win something fantastic!

So, here's the latest hope. Stampin Addicts dot com has tons of ideas using the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot and is giving away a Big Shot Die Pack as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration. To enter, all you have to do is write about it. This is my entry. Now give me my dies.

Lost in the blog world

2009-07-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Now that I've discovered blogger's blog reader, I've been lost in the blog world reading! But, the cool thing is that people talk about their favorite blogs and that leads me to more reading. Ok, so maybe that's not "cool" per se, but I do get lost in other people's worlds. Through all this blog hopping, I was lead to http://giveawaytoday.blogspot.com/ . Everyday I check it out to see if they are giving away stuff I'm interested in. I wish I could say that I have won something, but I have not. However, I've only been paying attention for the last week or so, so maybe my luck will change in the future!

Being Green

2009-05-15T17:39:00.001-07:00

In this case it was easy to be green! I reused a berry container and some packaging from a magnetic mat that I bought to make this cute little container. Hopefully this will get me posting on a more regular basis!

I've Lost It!

2009-04-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

I've lost my patience for teaching myself new things. Somewhere along the way, I've lost the ability to sit down and concentrate. This could have something to do with the fact that there are four people in the office right now. Three of them can be very noisy and interrupt me all the time, LOL.

Really, I think it has to do with our society of instant gratification. I have surrounded myself with quick and easy. I really don't attempt anything unless it's quick and easy--quick recipes, quick crafts, even quick movies (Scott still hasn't been able to get me to sit down and watch LOTR). If I ever try to do any of the more time-intensive things, I think about all the things I should be doing. I joke that when Scott wants me to watch TV with him that he has to sit or lay on me to hold me down. Even on must-see TV Thursdays I can often be found doing other things while watching my favorite shows. At the very least, I get up during the commercials.

Or, could this just be a season of life. A season where I'm too busy to concentrate on the things that don't really matter right now. A season where my joy of learning is found in learning through the eyes of my kids and learning with them as well. A season that will make me sad when it is over.

For now, quick and easy allows me to engage in hobbies that I enjoy without taking away too much time from where I'm needed. Quick and easy has also allowed me to involve the kids in some of my hobbies. Their short attention spans don't allow for much beyond quick and easy. Quick and easy has allowed me to involve my friends in some of my hobbies.

All this to say, I started out the day trying to make my own blog header. Then, I tried using one that someone else made but just editing it. When all of that didn't work, I just went back to a free template offered by blogger. When this season is over, maybe I'll be able to sit down and create my own template!

Virtual Dust

2009-04-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that dust doesn't collect in the virtual world like it does in the real world. I'd hate to think the cleaning I'd have to do on my blog after it sitting untouched for two years!

I really wish I were one of those people who likes to write...or who even likes what they write. I think my desire to make things short and sweet well outweighs my desire to make it interesting. I think what I really miss is social interaction. I could sit and talk to you all day, but a one-sided conversation is not as much fun. What's the fun of talking to yourself if no one is listening?

In an attempt to improve my writing skills, I'm going to start regular posts again. And, I'm going to start posting crafty projects again. Craft night has really helped me set aside time to do things that I like to do. Sometimes that is just drinking coffee and talking all night. Other nights I'm a little more productive. I've even let the girls be a part of craft night--at least until their bed time.

Maybe the crafty projects will be for those days that I don't feel like talking to myself!

Tuscan Tomato Soup

2007-03-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Scott is quite a fan of Tomato Basil Soup, but all the cream doesn't agree with healthy eating habits. So, I found this recipe in "The Sonoma Diet Cookbook". It goes over well with the entire family!

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
3 lbs. fresh tomatoes, cored an coarsely chopped, or three 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes, undrained
12 cloves garlic, minced (2 Tbsp. minced)
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
2 14 oz. cans chicken broth
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 c. chopped zucchini and/or yellow summer squash
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 oz. Parmesan cheese, shaved

In a 4-qt. Dutch oven heat 1 tablespoon live oil over medium heat. Reserve 1 cup of the chopped fresh tomatoes or, if using canned tomatoes, reserve 1 can tomatoes. Add remaining fresh tomatoes or undrained canned tomatoes, the garlic, and crushed red pepper to hot oil in Dutch oven. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until tomatoes are very tender, stirring occasionally. Add chicken broth. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Cool slightly.

Transfer half of the tomato and broth mixture to a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Repeat with remaining half of the mixture. Return all to Dutch oven. If using canned tomatoes, drain the reserved can. Add reserved fresh or canned tomatoes, the cooked zucchini, the oregano, and parsley to pureed mixture. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper. Heat through. Garnish with cheese.

*I use the canned tomatoes and usually substitute basil for the oregano.

PEACE and quiet...

2007-03-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

I'm constantly looking for peace and quiet in my home. It's not about who's right or who's wrong or what's fair....it's about the solution that causes the least noise in the end! I even tell my son that sometimes. I want peace and quiet, and if I can reasonably get to the peace and quiet, then that's the path that I'm going to take.

Really, moments of peace and quiet in the house are few and far between. But, for me, true peace comes from God. In the midst of my circumstances--whether it be crying kids or whatever--I can still have peace. I can even have quiet--not outwardly, but inwardly. In the end, it becomes my choice to choose the peace and quiet that's so readily available!

Sometimes I Amaze Myself!

2007-03-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I wouldn't really say "amaze myself," but I am pretty excited about how cute this little box is. It's an "exploding" box. Exploding meaning that when you take off the lid, the side fall down into pages of a mini album.

I had lots of fun doing this, and I could see myself making more in the future. I was thinking of making a smaller one with Bible verses for the members of my Mom's group. It could be a box exploding with blessings!

I'm kinda sad that I have to let this one go. I made it for an auction. The auction begins tomorrow and is taking place at The Scrapbook Chalet . It's to benefit a family that has a child that has needed several surgeries. I may have to clean off my desk and then take a picture of it on my desk, so I can remember it after it's gone! I know that's crazy!

10 Things That Make Me Happy...

2007-03-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

In no particular order:

My children - Who would think so much joy and so much pain could be rolled up into one? Parenting is definitely the toughest job I'll ever love!

My husband - Yes, he deserves his own mention. He loves me, supports me, takes care of me, and puts up with me. I don't know what I would be or where I would be without him.

Nighttime in the desert - The air always seems so crisp and clear. I guess it's the absence of humidity, but it is one of my favorite things about living here.

Music - Whether I'm just listening, or singing along, or even playing an instrument, music puts a spring in my step!

My faith in God - There's a lot to be said for eternal security!

Bubble baths - I don't take them much anymore since we no longer have a jacuzzi tub, but it sure is nice to soak your cares away!

Fresh flowers - I wish Scott would understand this one!

Road trips - I like exploring the countryside and seeing new places! Now most of our road trips consist of going back to Texas, but even that is a good trip!

Letters and packages in the mail - Someone loves me! (Even if it is only because I ordered something from them ;-))

Friends - I cherish all my friends--the support, laughs, and ideas that they give me are priceless!

There are never enough hours!

2007-03-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Whenever we have family or friends in town, it seems like there are never enough hours in the day to do everything that we want to do. Today we wanted to have 99 cent breakfast, get the girls faces painted at Circus Circus, visit M&M World, ride the roller coaster at New York New York, have a bowling party, and eat at Sweet Tomatoes. OK, so maybe the problem is that we want to do too MUCH while friends and family are here. It wouldn't have been too bad if the face painting place had been open when we got there. We had to wait about an hour. But, the girls are too small to ride the roller coasters, so we needed to do something for them. (I'll have to upload photos later because my keys and camera are locked in the van and dh is gone right now.)

We get to New York New York, and ds is 1 inch too short to ride. I felt bad for him. His aunt thought that maybe he was relieved because she thought he might be getting nervous about riding it. So, maybe in a few months I can take him back to ride it. I thought it was strange, but they made him take off his shoes to measure him. They don't make you take off your shoes to ride it! But, better safe than sorry!

The roller coaster was lots of fun. As we were going up the first incline we were looking right at the sun. (We were in the first car.) But, once you reached the top, you could see a lot of the valley. My sister-in-law screamed about half the time, and I laughed the whole time. We also found out why they had restraints just above your shoulders--that would be the simulated jet fighter's barrel roll. Makes you wonder how they stay in their seat in the jet fighters! It was such a fun ride--I wonder if I'll ever be able to get dh to go with me!

Friends

2007-03-10T21:08:00.000-08:00

It's so fun to watch Allison with her friends. I like hearing her talk about them and make plans concerning them. Today she went to her friend's birthday party. We left, and she was saying that she's going to invite her friend to her party next year. Actually, she named off a whole list of friends. I guess I just enjoy how innocent she is and how innocent her ideas are. Who knows if she'll have the same circle of friends next year. They could go to different school or move away or some other circumstance. But, I'll enjoy the moment where life is perfect and good!

Love is a many splendored thing....

2007-03-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

...but a much overused word in our vocabularies. We love shoes, colors, cars, coffee, layouts, just about anything that makes our lives easier or catches our eye. I certainly think the word love is overused and misused. When we were kids, if you said that you loved something your friends would always say, "Well, why don't you marry it?" I think that question points to the fact that really, we should be using a word other than love. I have tried (but have not yet succeeded) to use the word love less. I want my children to know that when I say I love them, they are not in the same category as "things" in my life. I want my children to know that they are unique and special and worthy of being loved. I want them to know that love is special and something to be cherished, and is nothing like appreciation, adoration, delight, or fondness. I want them to know that when I say that I love them, it is a special comment used for special people!

2007-03-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

Here's my layout for week 3 of the Survivor contest at The Scrapbook Chalet. The challenge (for me) was to do a scraplift from HardCoreScrapper. We were paired up this week, so she is lifting one of my layouts. It was definitely a fun challenge. I'm glad I got to scrap this photo of the girls because I think it's so cute--their hair and their expressions. It's going to be a tough vote this week. There are only 8 of us left, but 5 will be leaving the contest this week. There have been some amazing creations throughout the contest, and I'm sure this week will be no exception!

Let them eat cake!

2007-03-03T20:42:00.000-08:00

Even if it looks a little freaky. Alli and I were searching the internet for a cake. I was prepared to put out the effort for an Ariel cake, but she saw the photo of this cake and wanted it. I think it looks weird because she doesn't have any arms. I think her face looks weird too, but I didn't really know what else to do with it. It was a big hit. She loved it--in fact, everyone at her party loved it. Well, except for her Mom!

The party was lots of fun and not a lot of work--loved that part for sure! Alli wouldn't stand next to Chuck E. Cheese or cooperate for a photo with Mom or Dad, but I know she had a great time! We came home with lots of Barbies and Polly Pockets, a pink fuzzy phone, and lots of other stuff that I'll have to find a place to put! The thing that bugs me the most is that the best photo of her was taken by the machine that draws your photo!

My Baby is 4!

2007-03-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

Alli's birthday was on Monday. Someone asked if I was having a difficult time with her being 4. I really don't have a problem, but I think next year will be a whole different story. Five is the beginning of school and the end of spending the day at home with Mom. But, I'll worry about that next year.

Her party is Saturday. I went the easy route--Chuck E. Cheese. All we have to do is show up with a cake. It's going to be a mermaid, and she's already picked out the one she wants me to make. We should have lots of fun doing that tomorrow!