Dizzy Little Monster

I love Evan's little hat that I found him at a garage sale.  It has matching little green furry monster mittens to match too!  Well if you are anything like me and LOVE rubber stamps and everything that goes along w/ them, sometimes you have to be thrifty in other areas.  I garage sale when I can especially for Evan's clothes.  There are so many sales w/ kid's clothes w/ prices just a fraction of buying new.  I never knew I was so politically correct--I'm recycling and having fun doing it!  HOW GREEN!

If you like to save cents and want to scrapbook about it,  type alt+0162 to create the cent symbol. 

***Notice Evan's jeans and shirt also garage sale goodies! :)

Ribbon Share Update:

I have (1) Scallop Dot Ribbon Share left and the ends of the 1/8" taffeta ribbon -- it's a little more than 2 yards on some rolls a little less on others, but comes up to the same amount of ribbon.  If you are interested in either on of these ribbon shares, shoot me an email.  :)

Happy Stampin' 

Baby Announcements

Did you know that My Digital Studio is for more than scrapbooking?

Today, I wanted to show off another use for MDS.... announcements!

Whether you are having a baby or grandbaby or know someone who's expecting, what a beautiful way to welcome a new little one.

Red, White and Blue

This is going to be a crazy week!  Monday morning is here and I am off and running.  I will apologize now if I'm a little quieter than normal, but I'm working on setting up a garage sale, Riley's softball practices and games and Evan has an appointment to find out if Wisconsin Early Autism Program will accept him as a new patient.  Vacation??? 

Here's a quick MDS page I did for the Late Night Stampers challenge this week.  I couldn't think of a great title for the page.  Looking at it now, it's kinda dorky!  LOL  Oh well...nauti--nautical.  It's punny, right?!  :)



Whooos Playing....

Whooos playing with MDS instead of cleaning her house today.  Hmmmmm...LOL!  Okay, I spent a little of my day playing, but it was so much fun. 

I made a birthday card using the owl punch download.  It's so easy to get his eyes on straight when using MDS.  I think rather than stamping him in the future, I will print him already assembled off of MDS.  Just another reason to buy My Digital Studio.

Here's my card:

Oh and here's a tip: To make a perfectly pointy birthday hat in My Digital Studio, the arrow punch works great.  ;)

Graduation Season

I can honestly say that I have never been invited to so many graduations.  They invites just keep coming.  We are receiving invites for July parties!  I thought graduation parties where right around Memorial Day not after the 4th of July! It's crazy, but I'm thankful that I have MDS! Just a few clicks of the mouse and you can change an Argyle orange card to a Milton red card.  LOL

Just a Little...

Just a little hot!  Oh my gosh, Wisconsin forgot all about spring this year and went straight to summer. It's been humid and low to mid 90s.   I thought after the long drawn out winter and no spring that it may never be warm again.  I was wrong.  It's back to sweating, shorts, bugs and ballgames. Riley Kate is playing softball two evenings a week and I'm loving being outside, but need to adjust my personal thermostat.  I'm running a bit warm.  And I must be VERY SWEET--the bugs love me.

I am enjoying being down in the basement where it's cool.  The stamping room is the nicest room in the house right now. :)  WELL--I think it's pretty great year round, but it is particularly pleasant especially with no a/c yet.

This week there is a ~CooL~ new sketch challenge over at Krista's Cards & Things.  I like this one.  It was just what I was needing to get more scrapbooking done.  I opted to do the 'things' this week rather than the cards.  LOL

I had this photo of Evan that was taken last month that I just had to do something with.  My girls laughed right out loud when they saw it.  He looks so mischievous and perhaps just a little naughty. He isn't of course.  He is just a perfect little angel.  *cough*  Yeah, right!!!

To prove his point, Evan just came up and hit something on the keyboard and the paragraph above disappeared so I got to retype it. *sigh*  2 year olds are such fun! ♥

  

 

Printed Pages

I used SU! professional printing service for the first time when I had 6 pages printed for Dani's graduation.  I have never been so happy with a service!  The pages were crystal clear and true to color.  I was literally bouncing when I pulled the pages out of the box from SU! with delight.  I framed the pages in 12 x 12 frames and frame stands (Hobby Lobby framing department) to display the pages around the room. They received a lot of attention. So if you have been holding off on getting your pages printed--DON'T.  I promise you won't be sorry.  They are gorgeous!

SERIOUSLY Ready to Graduate

My friend, Wendy took Dani's senior pictures.  Can you tell that Dani feels at ease w/ her?  Dani had a great time and honestly the SERIOUS pictures are not my favorite senior pictures.  These pictures where Dani is laughing and cutting up are what I love to see. 

We are counting down the days until graduation now.  May 28th....  I know that Dani is ready.  Her stress level is at an all time high and she has yet to start her salutatorian's speech.    EEEK!

This girl is SERIOUSLY ready to Graduate and leave independent PHYSICS behind!  :)

Digital Cupcake Card

Is it Tuesday yet?  Okay Tuesday has long past, but it has been wild and crazy around my house this week. I'm finally adding a card to play along w/ Krista's Cards & Things sketch this week.

Here is my MDS card--I hadn't tried out my Create A Cupcake download yet.  No time like the present, right?!  :)

Let's Make It A Double

I have so many of Dani's photos, I decided to make the Photography layout into a 2 page spread.  I kept the pages very clean and simple (CAS).  I want everyone to focus on the photos and not embellishments and papers. 

I'm really excited about the pages, but definitely will need to make more pages showcases her pictures.  After searching on my computer for pictures, I cannot believe it still RUNS.  There are files upon files.  I'm so excited to have them.  It is like looking at the world through her eyes.

Photography

Dani loves to take pictures.  I think she has some real talent.  She uses a little Kodak Easy Share, but once in awhile her Aunt Julie will come visit and  let Dani take pictures around our farmette. She always comes back with some fantastic photos.  I have files and files of 'Dani Pictures'--it's hard to pick favorites.

I am using  12 x 12 layouts for Dani's graduation to display. I finally found 12 x 12 frames at Hobby Lobby ($9.99). If you ever want a 12 x 12 frame DO NOT go to the scrapbooking department. The framing department has them and they are half the price. I need to save money where I can so I can afford more STAMPS and MDS downloads! :)

A Boy & His Bear

Ni-Night Bear has successfully made it through the washing machine yet again. He lost his mouth and nose in a previous washing, but Evan doesn't seem to mind at all.  True friends can overlook those little things. 

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of Evan and Ni-Night Bear watching a  Signing Time DVD together yesterday. Evan looks pretty comfy with his sippy cup of almond milk and his best bear. They remind me of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin.

A Boy & His Bear

Let Me Show Ya...

This is my husband, Terry and Evan building the halfwall in the garage.  Evan was such good help.  He was about a year and a half in this picture.  He has seen dad do drywall before, huh?  Maybe he'll be going to work w/ dad in the summers when he gets older. :)

Fundamental Job

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous here in Wisconsin.  I loved 80+ degrees for the first time this year.  I washed all the bedding and hung it out on the line.  I am one of those strange few that loves to hang out laundry.  How can you not?  It smells so good and it's a great excuse to go outside when you are cleaning.  :)

Last night, we had the windows in our bedroom cracked.  I don't think I have slept that well in months.  The frogs were singing, the wind was blowing---ahhhhh  there is nothing like Spring.

Yesterday afternoon was Riley Kate's Spring Concert. I love to go to hear her sing and play the trumpet.  She received her awards and certificates for Band and Choir along w/ Solo and Ensemble.  She was up on the stage grinning like crazy.  She received two certificates and 4 metals (2 silver and 2 gold).  I was so happy for her. She worked hard and it's nice to see her rewarded for the time she spent practicing.

I spent a little time playing along with Krista's Cards & Things Challenge.  This week is a color challenge.  I really like this color combination. They are three of my favorite SU! colors.

This week I decided to do something different for the challenge.  I wanted to share a My Digital Studio project.  I made this scrapbook page after seeing this quote in a forward I received from my Mother-in-Law.  It so described Evan.  He may not rule the entire universe YET, but he certainly has taken control of our household.  He is really perfecting being a 2 year old. This old mom is tired already and we aren't even halfway through 2!  LOL

Creative Parenting 101

Some days, mommies just have to be creative--especially if they want to get something done around the house. Today my goal was to clean up the laundry room. Evan definitely had other ideas.  While I'm in the laundry room, he was unpacking the folded clothes, on the counter in the kitchen helping himself to whatever he could find, reprogramming the televison.  You know--those things that toddlers do to help keep mommies busy. 

 I had just finished cleaning the laundry tub when I had a thought.  Evan needs a bath and I know he'll fit in here.  I gave him a couple clean containers and enough water to wash himself and half of the laundry room floor.  :)  He's clean.  The laundry room is clean. 

Just another day in the life of Creative Parenting 101.

Impatiently Waiting for Spring...

 

I really like this picture of Evan that I took of him looking out our kitchen window. 

There is only one thing I didn't like about the picture.  The dark colors he is wearing. When I envisioned a page using this picture, I saw a soft background.  With My Digital Studio, you have several different photo options.  A couple options that I like for my photos is black & white or sepia. 

I love how with a couple clicks of the mouse and My Digital Studio you can completely change the feeling of a picture. On this page, I turned Evan's picture back to black & white so that I could make a cute springtime page without the distraction of the dark colors of his clothing.

Same picture--completely different look.

I ♥ My Digital Studio. 



Through the Eyes of a Child

I loved this picture of Evan looking out the kitchen window.  I wonder how he views the world?  I love to watch his little face as he takes in the big world outside.  I'm sure everything is beautiful in his eyes.

BBQ Hamburger

Today, I wanted to add a recipe for the cookbook that the kids love. BBQ at our house is always a hit. In fact over the years, I don't know if there has been a party that I have taken BBQ to that I wasn't asked for the recipe. 

My mom found this recipe when I was little, it was called BBQ for a Crowd in her recipe box, but in mine it's just Mom's BBQ.  ♥

I'm so excited.  I purchased some more digital downloads for My Digital Studio.  I got the Play Date dsp. Isn't it CUTE?!  And.... the owl punch.  OMgosh, I couldn't wait to use him.  He is so sweet!  He's just sitting there on the corner of my page looking all fancy w/ his dsp vest.  :)

Mom's BBQ
2# ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 TBSP flour
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup water
2 TBSP vinegar
1 cup ketchup
1 tsp mustard

Brown ground beef with onion and celery in a large skillet. Drain. Over a low heat, add ketchup and mustard, chili powder and salt. Stir well. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer until flavors are blended about 20-30 minutes. 

Blizzard 2011

Ahhhh... Wisconsin weather.  You have to love it.  We woke up this morning to lots of snow.  It's BEAUTIFUL!  I was hoping that my husband, Terry wouldn't plow right away, but then...  I found out that my Stampin' Up! order was due to arrive today.  LOL  "Honey, go plow the driveway. Hurry!"  Stamps change everything...  :)

Here's my MDS page of 'The Big One'.  It's the Blizzard of 2011.

Recipe: Grandma's Chops & Potatoes

Outside the wind is howling, the snow is blowing and school is already cancelled for tomorrow.  Is it strange that I am not at all upset by the snow or the blowing?  I actually enjoy nights like this and can't wait to look outside when the sun comes up in the morning.  The best thing about country living--the scenery is so amazing.  We live off the beaten path (yep, that's a nice way to say the boonies).  There will be no tracks and everything will have a beautiful  layer of white and some amazing drafts for my husband, Terry to enjoy.  He is a snowmobiler. He loves this weather too.  

 Tonight, the house is chilly because there is nothing stopping the wind from pounding against the house.  It's an extra quilt kind of night.

Speaking of quilts, I just make another cookbook page for the kids' cookbook.  I couldn't resist making a quilt background w/ my new dsp download.  This dsp is part of the Springtime Vintage download.  There is matching dsp and fabric in the Occasions mini. 

Doesn't it just say Grandma? It reminds me so much of the kids' Grandma Hawkinson. She does a little quilting and loves all things that are blue and flowery. :)

Here's the recipe:
Grandma Hawkinson's Baked Pork Chops
6 pork chops
6 TBSP ketchup
6 TBSP brown sugar
6 TBSP lemon juice
1 large onion, sliced
5 baking potatoes, peeled and diced

Place pork chops in the bottom of an oven safe baking dish or 13 x 9 pan.
Add 1 TBSP of ketchup, brown sugar and lemon juice to each chop.
Scatter the onions over top. Add potatoes.

Cover w/ aluminum foil. 
Bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours. 
The pork chops will be tender.  YUM!