happy birthday, daddy!

from the kiddos








(picture taken yesterday after they both got new hair cuts!!!!)

38!

Happy Birthday to my super terrific husband!!!!! I love you more and more every day - I'm looking forward to another wonderful year!


I love you!!!
(picture taken on his birthday last year!)

Cross your fingers for me!!!

I just put myself in the drawing for a chance to go to Pioneer Woman's Ranch for a cooking demo!!!! That would be such a dream! She's my cooking idol you know :)

if you haven't checked it out yet - her blog link is on the left - you must pick a recipe and cook it today - you won't be disappointed!

Monkey-do Scraps

I couldn't let the scraps from the "Monkey-do" layout go to waste so I made a card! The ribbon is from my mom - I think she got it from the Target dollar spot - it matches the papers perfectly!

what a day!

wow!

first - Hailee had a soccer game at 9:00 am - that is NOT easy for a family that doesn't do mornings very well! but we made it on time - better than 3 of the other girls! Hailee got in some great, effective kicks, and one of them scored a goal - her FIRST!!!! Because of her first goal she received the MVP award for the day - it's tradition with this coach....all the other girls received their first goal awards one or two seasons ago :)

second - in the parking lot, in the backseat, while buckling Braden in, Hailee was eating the last Oreo from her soccer snack. Out of no-where she jumped out of her seat hysterical and crying. Her tooth came out and was in her hand! LOL Darren and I just laughed! She does this with each tooth (hates the sight of blood and her teeth bleed for a bit when they come out) and it's just too funny to watch!

After we got home, we all changed and went to the walking trail that runs along the turnpike - Braden in his stroller, Hailee on her bike, Sammy on his leash - we walked 2 miles each direction for a total of 4 miles! My butt muscles hurt (I pushed the stroller!) and Hailee was ready to call it quits at 3 miles - but we had to get back! LOL

AFTER THAT we dropped the dog back at home and took the kids to McDonald's for lunch to celebrate Hailee's great game. (don't worry I ordered food I'm allowed to eat!)

Braden wouldn't nap after all this - not sure why....Darren had no trouble! Hailee played outside and I tried to nap during the hour and a half I tried to make Braden nap!

Anyway - it was a great day and we all really enjoyed just being together! Fun start to the weekend!


Here's a picture sure to make you smile (this was after the game, before the walk)

this one was SO fun!

I've wanted to make a layout with this title for a long time now! Braden is often called "monkey-do" for the things he does! We love it! He'll see Darren doing something in the garage so he'll go find something to pick up so that he can mimic him. Hailee will walk around the house on her hands and knees acting like a tiger...Braden will follow right behind. But he mimics good things too - like counting, saying abc's, and so much more. It's a learning technique for him as much as it is just something fun to do.

In these pictures he is showing me his teeth. Hailee had a super loose tooth and I wanted to see it - next thing I see is this face and Braden saying "tee mine mommy?" So I took the pictures!

I also LOVED working with Bungle Jungle from Sassafras! They have become one of my FAVORITE manufacturers!!! You'll see more from this collection - I promise!!!

Dinner tonight!

One of my favorite cookbooks is called "Land of Cotton". My dad and step-mom gave it to me for Christmas in 1993. I use this cookbook more than any of my others.

tonight I'm making this recipe and everyone loves it! We eat it at least once a month!

Alabama's Pepper Steak

2 pounds beef round steak
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp salt
1 medium onion, sliced
1 (10 oz.) can beef consomme'
4 tbsp flour
1/2 cup water
black pepper to taste
2 cups diced or sliced bell pepper rings
2 cups chopped celery
4 tbsp soy sauce
3 cups cooked rice (we use regular white - so good with the sauce!)

Cut beef into slices. Heat oil in a large skillet. Cook and stir beef over high heat about 5 minutes or until meat is browned. Add salt, pepper, bell pepper, celery, onion, and consomme'. Cover and cook over low heat until meat and vegetables are tender. Blend flour, water, and soy sauce. Stir into mixture. Cook and stir until mixture is slightly thickened. Serve over bed of rice.


MMMMMM......let me know if you try this! It really is SOOO good!

want to get your TUSH kicked?

then this is for you! I love Jillian and the way she pushes people beyond their limit! and I have to say, even though she isn't IN the room with me, hearing her say things like "flat abs don't come for free" keep me going!



and the fact that she's kicking my butt makes it easy to not eat the things I normally would - because I know she'd have to kick me even harder to get it off! LOL

this can be purchased online from Amazon, Wal-mart, or Target - I bought mine from Amazon and with shipping it was under $12! deal! but - maybe you live in a town that actually carries it in stores - I'm not in one of those towns. sigh.

do YOU like deals???

Jen is offering a great special over at RSC! check it out here ---> April "NO FOOLS" deal!!!









offer ends April 2nd at midnight!

a new blog post

first - head over the the Use Your Stash blog and see what's going on - April is just around the corner and SO many fun things are planned!!!

second - crazy weather I tell ya! we had almost 8" of snow the other day - didn't get any ALL winter, and we get this much in Spring? okey dokey then. my kids weren't arguing! lol


third - card posts! I'm sure you're sick of seeing them..but don't worry because tomorrow is the end of the month! lol

today's card is to use bling - there are gems within the scrolls around the bird....and stickles too!


this card needed pink.

here's the card I made for the "black" day. I had fun doing something new with ribbon and I know I will do it again! If only I knew how to sew! (I can hear my step-mom chuckle...she told me many times that sewing was a good skill to learn!)

this card was for the brad day - the floral center is a blingy brad that Kimmie sent me....I did not make that flower, it is cut from a sheet of paper.


there - now that wasn't so bad now, was it?

I have had so much fun making all these cards! and guess what? I haven't kept ANY! I mailed out a few to my aunt, sister, brother in the beginning of the month - then put a bunch in a box for my mom who says she can sell them (we'll see...that just seems odd to me! lol) and the rest have gone to my step-mom, along with some others that you haven't seen here. It's flattering to me that my family likes my cards.....and I don't mind not having a stash, I'd rather make them as I need them when it comes to birthdays and holidays.

I can't think of anything else going on - not sure about soccer practice this week - the field is already pretty soggy and with more rain on the way it may be canceled for Wednesday now....and of course rain is expected Thursday which may effect Friday's practice - guess we shouldn't count on winning the game Saturday! lol

well that's all for now - have a great week everyone! ♥

getting all my cards posted

wow - I can't believe I've made 25 cards so far this month! let me get you current on them all!


use a button
use stitching (yes, I used a pen - it's the best I can do! lol)
use ink...
use orange
use purple - this was the worst! I don't DO purple :)
use plaid
use 3 patterned papers - Basic Grey of course!!
this was to use embossing - too simple of a card...

so only a week left - wow! I'll post those next week I suppose :) have a great week ya'll!!!

♥ to all!

Look what I got today!

see the blinkie on the right side??? the pretty floral one?? don't you love it???



I am SO honored to wear this badge!!! Thank you to everyone at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/

If you haven't checked them out yet you must do so!!!!!! such fun stuff and GREAT inspiration!!

whole mess of stuff

first, the cards.

this is todays card to use a journal spot - but "doctor" it up a bit - I inked and crinkled the edges and punched the side with my spiral punch.

this is for the star card challenge
this one for eyelets - it's the card I made for the UYS blog, too (ssshhhh....)
this one is for the bird challenge.
this was made using scallops..... ♥ it!

here are pictures from Hailee's 2nd soccer game on the 14th - it was 39 degrees and raining! luckily it was light rain and the girls were fine, but was it ever cold! this was during a quarter that Hailee wasn't on the field - she came to hug me and Braden wanted to copy (he was under the blanket with me most of the time) - it did stop the rain for a little while so Hailee posed on the "bench" for her daddy. I can't show game shots because of the other girls - don't want to post pictures without permission! lol



and this was yesterday...we had a nice day and while Hailee was at the neighbor's I followed Braden around the back yard with the camera :)


that's it for today's post. It's spring break here so I'm sure I'll be getting some more pictures to share - if I can get Hailee to stay still I'll make sure to include her! :) Today is going to be 83 and tomorrow 80 - then a cool down. I know most people are happy about that but I ♥ winter so much that I'm really wanting the weather our family in Seattle has!!!

Cuttlebug Challenge 22

This card is being posted for the Cuttlebug challenge blog - use a stamped image and glitter - I stamped the "thank you" then wrote over it with my glue pen - then applied marta stewart glitter!

June/July calls for Ready, Set, Create

Ready-Set-Create calls for June/July 2009 issue

1. Father's day
2. Graduation
3. Water themed (beach, pool, etc.)
4. July 4th
5. Color Combo featuring summery orange and blue -must include these colors, but the layout theme is your choice
6. Altered call - we're looking for creative ways to alter CD cases, books, etc... (stepping outside the box so to speak - get creative!)
7. Cards (any theme)
8. Altered Scrapyard (any theme)
9. Open gallery (layouts of any theme)


SUBMISSION FORM:
Email: _________________
Project title:_____________
By:____________________

Supplies:
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________

Deadline: May 10, 2009 MST at midnight

Please copy and paste the short submission form into an email to Jen@readysetcreate.com.
If your work is selected you will be notified, and receive a free downloadable copy of the issue your work appears in

Submissions must not be included in any online galleries, blogs, or stores until at least 30 days after the issue your work appears in has been released.

www.readysetcreate.com

here's what I've done so far today

...been very productive! I love when Braden plays well on his own so I can be creative! I even got to vacuum - great day.... ♥ it!


I hope you like seeing the Chloe's Closet line from Making Memories...it is making me so happy and I'm loving it! I've done 3 cards with it now, plus this layout! and I'm going to keep using it until the stack on my desk is gone! I've never loved a paper line so much! I have to thank Marti actually. I bought some of the paper last week and quickly put it away so I had it in my stash. Then Marti sent me some happy mail that included not only more of the papers but transparencies, stickers, and adhesive ribbon from KF! yay! so I decided I'd use it!

so - 2 cards for today's challenge at YMBD to use ribbon





and the layout. it's titles "no nap, Grampa". the brad is 7gypsies and says "play", the heart is Heidi Swapp, and the rest is Making Memories!!!

March 6-9 cards...oops and a layout!

just trying to get all my card posts caught up. If you haven't stopped by, you can still join the fun - all cards just need to be uploaded by March 31st to be eligible for all the prizes!!!! (ymbd link on sidebar)

Mar 6 - birthday card

Mar 7 - stamped IMAGE, not sentiment

Mar 8 - use stickles (I colored "Happy" with blue)

Mar 9 - paper tearing

I almost forgot to share a layout I made the other night - this is my grandma, my step-mom, and my BABY brother (he turns 20 this month and is almost a foot taller than me!)...handsome kid isn't he? being the youngest of my siblings my kids think he's pretty cool - I think the height helps - they climb him! lol

Heather *hearts* me!

look - I was picked this week - first time!!!

{{ymbd blog post}}

no more scraggle tooth!

she got it out after many tears and panic attacks!!! (right before bed)

82 degrees!

yes, that was our high today - so of course my kids were outside playing!!! yesterday was just as nice, I did get pictures but they aren't nearly as cute as these! Hailee's top tooth is sticking out is some pictures - I wish she'd just yank it! I told her if she's lucky a soccer ball will hit her in the face tomorrow and get it out! LOL (I was KIDDING, calm down!)

well anyway - I'm glad she posed! normally she doesn't....and I asked to see her tooth but that picture didn't turn out - but then naturally Braden wanted to show me his - that's the picture with his posed grin! lol







then there's this picture - my all time favorite of the day - I did not crop or edit anything in photoshop. she still takes my breath away.

more March "card-a-day" pictures!

I'm doing all my cards somewhat similar - the reason is I'm hoping to have a nice set at the end of the month that I can use as a gift at some point. 31 cards would be a great stash for someone!

here's my most recent card - using chipboard (I ran the chip heart through my big shot with the swiss dots embossing folder)this card was made for the border punch challenge - I love my new Martha Stewart punch!!! (oh and Kimmie - guess what M's had in stock yesterday!!! lol)
this is obviously a birthday card - using felt. I used the Queen & Co felt as a strip layered on my patterned paper!

now I'm off to do today's challenge - I'll be back in a few days!

have to share!

I received many cards for my birthday - and thank you to everyone who sent me one, I really appreciate it and loved having them displayed for a few days!

but one card in particular really touched me. it was creative. it was thoughtful. it was perfect. it made me tear up. it was from a girl who really does watch me and is showing so much more talent than I ever thought possible.

my not so little Hailee. I love that girl. look at this.



she even put it together the way I do! she worked with the patterned paper. wrapped the ribbon around it and glued on the tag ( a LOT of glue!) that says "happy birthday" and added the cut out candle. then she glued that paper onto folded white cardstock. PERFECT! I was so proud!

what you can't see is the inside. it reads:

I love you very much.
hope you have a happy birthday.
*heart* Hailee

and a drawing of a farm (her new **thing** right now.)

...sigh...

tagged

My sweet friend, KimMarie, tagged me a few days ago - I'm finally getting around to doing this!


Two Names you go by
1. Mommy
2. Dear

Two things you are wearing right now
1. red house pants
2. blue long sleeved top

Two of your favorite things to do
1. scrapbook and make cards
2. family day

Two things you want very badly at the moment
1. take a shower
2. go on vacations

Two favorite pets you have/had
1. Sammy
2. my birds

Two things you did last night
1. made dinner
2. made a card that I love and can share tomorrow.

Two things you have eaten today
1. coffee (I know, it's not eating but it's all I've had so far)

Two people you last talked to
1. Hailee
2. Darren

Two Places You have been in the past year
1. Seattle last May
2. that's why I need a vacation!

Two favorite beverages
1. coffee!!!!
2. Diet coke

cards to share

Thanks to Marti I've been busy making some cards! In February she had a challenge to make 3 cards to give a friend as a gift - so I made these. I used the DCWV green stack and LOVE that stuff!!



NOW - she has a "card-a-day" challenge at YMBD.

Here's March 1st - use a butterfly on a card:



March 2nd - use a flower on a card:


stay tuned - there's going to be 29 more :)

launch week!

check it out!

http://www.thescrapreview.com/

I've been scrapping!!!

but I can't share! isn't that mean of me? I have made lots of fun things using the great products that sponsors have provided the RSC creative team! I got on a card kick for a while so it felt REALLY good to make some layouts! THEN I made my layout for the Stash blog - and I think I like it! lol (I usually am only happy with about half of what I make!)

what has everyone else been up to? is everyone getting warmer than normal weather like we are? stinks doesn't it? I'd like half the snow my family in WASHINGTON has had. But no. 2 small ice storms. heavy winds. a few days with cooler weather. that's all we've had. oh, we did have 2 days at 80 last week.