Cars, Cards and Cooking

I'm in my usual "Friday Free Fall" in terms of my productivity level.  I got up. Got dressed.  Got two of the kids up (actually hubby did the herding this morning)  and out - my High Schoolers are off today.  Drove the rental car truck to school, with the 5 y.o. commenting how fun it was and that we should keep it.  I think the 13 y.o. agreed with him, but being 13 he just sat there trying to be unimpressed.  

The 5 y.o. informed me how cool it was to look "at the back" - meaning he twisted around in his seat (from his club-cab viewpoint) to watch the bed of the truck as we drove.  He wanted his older brother to share this thrill and invited him back to see for himself.  The older brother declined. Something about watching part of your car outside while you're inside, I guess.  I think paint drying may be more interesting, but, then, I'm not a 5 y.o. boy.

Anyway, I came home, swept the floor, emptied the dishwasher, made myself some breakfast, opened my card and my gift aaannndd that's about it.  I've chatted with my two kids and hubby.  Watched some of the Olympics.  Browsed my phone.  Moved to my computer and started browsing for cars.  I hate car shopping and am loathing having to find a new one.  We haven't heard the final word about our current car, but the shop did update us that the frame is bent.  How badly remains to be seen, as does what that will mean.

Last week I was also sloth-like but had my daughter's birthday party to eventually get me going.  I asked my daughter what she wanted for dessert and an idea for the main dish that was crowd friendly.  What we ended up with was:

• Dripped Beef (by Pioneer Woman) - Shredded anything usually goes a long way and this take was really good.  The peppers added just enough spice, without the heat.  We served this and the turkey on small rolls with shredded Monterey Jack and I sliced pepperoncini peppers that cooked with the meat.  Even better the next day.
• Shredded Turkey (for my non-red-meat-eating sister) - this was from our Thanksgiving turkey that we keg-roasted; it had been chopped and frozen the day after.  I mixed it with some fresh thyme and made a very light gravy and let it simmer away.

•  Oreo-stuffed Mint Chocolate Brownies - these were crazy and good and crazy-good.  I love me some Oreos.  I love me brownies of any kind.  Add the two and dang!  I didn't use mint chips to make the frosting - I didn't want a crunchy top and I knew I wouldn't find any in the stores this time of year.  So, I made a mint butter cream instead.

• Strawberry Cheesecake Chimichangas - these were good too.  The lemon really lightened up the filling.  I will chop the strawberries next time to get more bites of strawberry.  I also made them much smaller than the recipe calls for - I think I got 12.  We buy raw tortillas and cook them as we need them (we go through a lot of tortillas.)  They are so much better than national ready-to-eat brands and so much thinner.  When I make these again (and I will be making them again) I'll roll them raw and just fry, instead of pre-cooking the tortillas.

So put on a pot of beef (or turkey), mix up some brownies and set it out for the family while you go craft this weekend.

I am looking at this super cute card, by Wendi Robinson (one of her eight), and thinking it might be the inspiration I need to get off my butt and make use of the free time I have at the moment.  The multiple banners on the side are so fun and easy.  Plus, I can just change the papers to say Christmas themed, or a single design in multiple colors, like polka dots, and boom another versatile design for all kinds of cards.   Fun stuff.  If you need some inspiration, go grab the kit for yourself HERE.

My sister and I had hoped to take a card class at a new scrapbook store, but it's full.  Boo.  So it looks like the whole cleaning my office/studio will be what I attempt to focus on today.  And then some type of crafty thing.  Maybe I'll dabble a bit in this and that.  Follow me on Pinterest/Twitter to see what, if anything, I manage to do.  Let's just hope it's not car shopping.

Happy Friday,

Auto Pilot, Peek at February's Card Kit & a Class

Ever have those days where you go through your regular routines but your brain isn't engaged.  Like, at all?  You drive to school with little memory of the actual drive?  Or find yourself eating but really don't remember making the moves to collect your dishes and food?  It appears that will be my day today - my body's entrenched memories of what to do will be guiding what and where I'm at.  

LOL, I wish my body had some entrenched memories of scrapping - I could actually "come to" and find I'd completed several pages, instead of huddled over a box of Girl Scout cookies I don't remember getting!  

Thanks for the well wishes yesterday - we are very grateful that everyone involved walked away without injury.  We should be hearing soon on the fate of our car.

Today's class picture day and I was proudly flashed with the pearly whites of my youngest.  When I asked my next child up the ladder if he'd brushed his teeth, I was informed he'd done his hair.  Mmmm, not quite answering the tooth question, though his hair looked nice.  I got my definitive answer when he asked for gum.  Ah. . .yeah.  Tomorrow being Valentine's Day and there being a dance for him I'm sure he won't neglect the teeth or the hair.

With my disconnected sense of self today, it might be a good day to just do some small crafty thing - since focus is also missing.  I could probably swing out a card from some of the scraps on my table before I'm distracted by something shiny.

I love the frilly look the butterflies lend this card created by Wendi Robinson using the February All Year Cheer Card kit.  The card design is simple and could easily lend itself to other shapes to change its use:  snowflakes, hearts, balloons.

This month Wendi created eight cards with the Card Kit - all of them with full-color instructions.  Have you joined the Card Kit Autoship?

Speaking of cards, I've signed up for a card class through PageMaps University.  It'll be my first class through here.  I'm excited to give it a shot - lots of goodies come with the class so I should have plenty of ideas for using up the scraps from all the layouts I'll be creating. Right?  Right.  The class starts next week, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy Thursday,

Not the Way and a Peek at Feburary

I've been told there's a better way to end your day than this...

Because clearly this is not the way to end the day.  Thank God all parties were okay - shaken up, but otherwise okay.  I'm not sure we'll be saying that about our car, however.

I'd like to start playing with February kits, even though I still have one or two packs from January waiting on my studio table, but shipping of said February kits must come first.  Perhaps a little peek at the Pebbles line found in the Smaller than a Breadbox kit is just the pick-me-up/inspiration necessary after . . . well after that mess above.

Are you signed up for Apron Strings kits?  They're super flexible whether you're doing traditional pages or pocket-page or a mix.  Or maybe you're a card-maker - there's a kit for that, too.  There's no time commitment to fear.  They're super budget friendly.  Don't let another month go by.  Go sign-up for one now.

Happy Wednesday,

To-Do Project Life® 2013 Week's 20 & 21(ish)

I'd really like to say I completed these this past weekend, but alas, no.  I did them a couple weeks ago when I was being quite productive with the things on my crafty to-do list.

This past week was a toughie to do much of anything on my to-do list, let alone being crafty.  I'm still working on putting priority on my craftiness.  I am learning that with all things on my daily work lists, some things take precedence and some don't.  The hard part is not to constantly push crafting to the bottom, thus making it more the "reward," which is the whole habit I'm trying to break.

I used the October Afternoon Midway line that was found in the January '13 Bigger than a Breadbox kit. (Looks like there's one left and it's on sale! ;D)

I created three Project Life® pocket-style pages.  I didn't use a whole lot of paper, a couple small blocks, and then the random embellishment.  There were just too many photos, and too many photos with too much activity to use much more than I did.  I love the Arrow paper for drawing the eye to photos.  I also worked up one card, using a Ali Dodsall sketch from Big Picture Classes to make the card.  There is quite a bit of this line left, so I'll be keeping all the pieces together to use at a later date.

I've got a child home with a pinched nerve in his neck (done while taking off his pajama top -sigh) and several other top priorities this week.  My plan is to scratch a couple things off the list, move him down to the couch with me and at least throw another card together before tackling some of the other pressing issues.

Happy Tuesday,

Wheel's a Spinnin', Party Prep and Apple Pie Fries

We took our girl out for her favorite food last night - Orange Chicken - and presented her with tickets to the Av's vs. Bruins game.  She was a bit excited, which is always a reaction you hope for.  She had a rough start to her birthday with a migraine she had to fight through at school, but she got Starbucks from a friend, endless wishes and a bag jammed with Av's paraphernalia from her BFF - she was over the moon.  And, thankfully, the day ended much better than it began.

Tonight we've got her family celebration and I have a ton to do.  So, naturally, I'm taking my time with my morning coffee, posting on the blog and generally procrastinating over where to start. 

Speaking of food, this week I only grabbed one thing from Pinterest and it was for the Super Bowl.  I've had these Apple Pie Fries pinned for some time - my daughter had them on her board as well.

 

They are super simple to put together.  I think my pie crust dough got a little too warm and so didn't bake up as crisp as I'd like.  As I'm thinking, though, I wonder if it was the egg-wash that made the crust a little under-baked.  Hmmm. . .  Either way, these will totally be made again as they were really good!  I made up Pioneer Woman's Easy Caramel Sauce for dipping and we plowed through these in no time.

My house is starting to bug the crap out of me, seems there's clutter on every surface and jammed into all the corners.  I've got Dripped Beef to make, Oreo Mint Brownies and Strawberry Chimichangas to bake, and general cleaning to do.  Add to that I have a serious craving to do something crafty; a sure fire recipe for me getting nowhere fast.  Best to get moving.

Happy Friday,

Happy Birthday

 

I try not to look back on my photos when I'm not actively scrapbooking or it's just memory-lane-o'rama with much wailing, gnashing of teeth and the ripping of clothing while wondering where time is going.  In general, it's not pretty.  Scrapbooking gives my mind something to do other than lamenting the fact my babies are growing up. 

 

This one in particular, today, as 17 years ago she made us parents.  She was our first controlled (or so I'm told) speed to the hospital.  She was our first step into the world of parenting.  She has been our joy and blessing.  She makes us laugh and proud.  She is a wonder that God blessed us with and we are forever grateful. 

 

Happy 17th Sweet Pea!

Happy Thursday,

We Are

We are annoyed with PhotoBucket for not uploading photos this morning.  And afternoon!

 



• We are waiting on snow
• We are watching the skies change with the incoming weather
• We are greeted by smiling upper classmen handing out breakfast burritos to the parents in the drop-off line. . .a "thank you" to parents during Catholic Schools Week.
• We are attending the Parent Appreciation assembly where we are covered in our children's gratitude via songs, poems and posters
• We are making Bronco hats
• We are celebrating the 12th year with this beautiful girl - our niece.
• We are sent over to Children's for chest x-rays after Dr. spends a lot of time listening to lungs
• We are earning a little piggy (to later be named Wilson) for being good during said x-rays
• We are opting for homemade pizza, at home, after over-indulging in last week's meal out - Whoops.
• We are trying to capture the magic of the snowy, winter wonderland that we woke up to
• We are forced to take it easy and decide to work on our fishing skills
• We are grateful for the only good thing during the Super Bowl - a yummy spread
• We are waking up to a balmy -11 degrees
• We are thankful for big brothers (who need hats when it's -11 degrees)
• We are intrigued by the ice crystal balls growing on the sidewalk

Happy Wednesday,