I'm Back!!!!!!!!

I've been gone forever! or so it seems. Major computer issues, but now I've got a new one and she's might fast! so I should be back in business! :)
So I got to digi scrap for the first time last night in months. I mean it has been forever!
here's the page and the credits























Just some random pictures one day, my little guy of course had to get in on the action, lol.
The layout was inspired by one of Jennifer McGuire's in the May 2009 CK mag from page 45. I just loved the circles.

Everything used is by Merkeley Designs
Circle It Templates
Ring It Templates
Strip It Templates
A Moment In Time (clear word art)
Wrapped ELements (staples)
Making Memories kit (alpha, rivets, elements and papers)

Font-Papyrus

15 Random things that are on my mind....

wow, so I haven't posted in a while, I haven't really done any commenting on other people's posts either. bad blogger=me! so while I've got the idea in my head I'm going to run with. Here is a list, in no particular order, of random things I'm thinking about/or that are going on.
1- Thanksgiving came and went too fast- how is it possible that it's almost Christmas?
2- It's almost Christmas- yay for Christmas music on the iPod!!!
3- Here's to hoping the economy does not get worse- I don't think we can take much more, things are tight.
4- I really need to get hoppin' on the home made christmas gift front-I've got the stuff I need I just "gotta get 'er done".
5- I really need to make all of us some nice snuggly winter pjs.
6- I wonder if it's possible to squeeze a few more hours into the day? if not could we just add on a whole 'nother day? I mean really I'm not asking for much am I?
7-I wish I knew where the hell my camera ran off too, I've been using my mom's since august, mine went missing some time after July 19 (as that's the last picture I have off of it).
8- I really need to get some CT work done, but I need more time! I could also use more drive space, lol.
9- We still need to get the garage door replaced- but again there's that money thing again.
10- I need to get some new stuff into my digi shop, not that I seem to make any money there anyway, but it's fun to dream.
11- I'm thankful we're all healthy and happy (or at least in my case only mildly depressed, impatient, and cranky-it comes and goes, lol.)
12- really need to give Aidan a haircut, and then I must take pictures for Christmas cards.
13- I wonder if Ian will ever cut his hair again? lol, maybe he's trying to get it as long as mine? my hubby is a mystery. but then he's always said he likes to keep people guessing!
14- will this baby fever ever go away? it's frustrating...which is probably why I'm mildly depressed.
15- It's really funny how my thoughts seem to come with a southern accent, it also rears it's head when I'm talking and getting agitated or emotional. ( Hi, I'm Fe, and I'm pretty fluent in southern-ese).

so that's all for now, that's what's floating around in my head right this minute, I'm sure that'll change again as soon as something new comes up, and then I'll forget what I needed to do and we'll be right back where I started from, dazed and confused, and wondering what it was I came into the room for. I know I can't be the only one that that happens too, you know what I'm mean- you walk into a room for something, and then you stand there trying to remember what that something was that you came into the room for... I know I'm not the only one this happens too! please tell me I'm right!

oh wait! here's another not so random thought....how is it that my baby...

is going to be 6 in a less then 2 weeks?????? (BTW- that picture was taken right before we left the hospital, so that's not his birthday)

Gappy Grin version 4.0

He lost another one this morning, not he's got a big ol' gap, and little bitty lisp! He's just too cute! (even with the major case of Bed Head and sleepy eyes going on in the picture below- we had to get a picture right away!)

Yet Another Lost Tooth!

They seems to be coming out just as fast as they came in! This one has been loose for a bit and was actually coming out really weird, it was pushing forward, it turns out that was because his big tooth was wanting out! The tooth next to it is very loose too so I'm sure we'll be singing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" this holiday season. Here's a picture of the Aidan's Gappy Grin Version 3.0 (and Daddy is in there too with as Matt calls it- his "hippy hair" )

Jedi

So here's a layout with a picture of Aidan in his Halloween costume that I made. He's all about Star Wars lately! I had to take a picture of him in his Jedi gear with the funny little R2D2 mailbox outside the Museum of Science and Industry. They had free admission on Halloween, and since Daddy had to work and we wouldn't have a car to go to Laurie's for trick or treating this seemed like a great alternative. I think Aidan's favorite part might have been the pumpkin drop demonstration that they did. We got to watch it twice. It was a wonderful way to teach kids about elastic and inelastic. They started out bouncing two small rubber balls that look alike, except they're not. One bounces and the other doesn't. So once the kids understood the difference, the got on to the really fun part. We glance up to the balcony where our presenter's partner is stationed. They first hold up a playground ball, and they ask the audience how high we think it will bounce (by the way there's a giant tape measure showing that the balcony is 25 ft high, and this is what we use to guess how high things will go). SO it bounced about 3.5 ft. then he yells up to the other guy, "what else ya got for us?". He's got a water ball (a squishy ball you play with in the pool). We guess what that will do (it just flops down, lol). Again he say "What else ya got for us?". He's got a really big playground ball. It bounces pretty much the same as the little one. "what else ya got for us?". He's got a pumpkin! the kids all start cheering. (keep in mind each time they drop something they've had the crowd counting it down from 3, and if we're not loud enough, they don't drop it. I think this really makes it more fun for the kids. it's a wonderful museum, lots of hands on for the kiddos.) Anyway back to the pumpkin. we're guessing what it'll do (the kids are all really cute!). We count it down (3 times, we were really yelling by the time they dropped it, lol). of course it splats! the kids (and adults) go wild, lol. They ask if we want to try it again. of course we do! They dropped 3 for each show.
They also allowed the kids to trick or treat at the museum. The employees were all "Mad Scientists" and their lab coat pockets were full of candy. It was really nice, the kids had to answer a science question to get their candy. I liked that they (or at least most of them) got down to the kids level to ask the questions. Some of the questions were hands on. They were all very friendly and help make science fun for the kids. A wonderful experience all in all!



everything by Merkeley Designs
Crumpeckles Paper Pack
frame- Wrapped kit
Jedi - Say it With Cubes
Star Border-It Templates
Tag It #1
Stitches- Dusty Kit
Font- Georgia

Gather

Here's a layout I put together last night for a challenge on one of my CTs. I'm pretty happy with how it came out, I've been wanting to scrap these pictures for a while now.

Twig It by Merkeley Designs
Blue Autumn by Merkeley Designs
Font Monotype Corsiva
Frame Template 009 by Cátia Cunha

Donut Recipe

First off I'm not a pro at cooking, I really really really just fly by the seat of my pants. I usually do lots of research online first, find a bunch of different recipes and then I wing it, lol. so the recipe below is going to be written as if I was talking to you, if you have questions feel free to ask in the comments.
The whole idea for these started when my god-mother mentioned that when her nieces and nephews were young they couldn't afford to go and buy donuts (my aunt had 10 KIDS!), that they would make their own. so this intrigued me. I asked how they used to make them. She said it was easy, they'd take canned biscuits, and deep fry them and then put powdered sugar or cinnamon on them. Well that shot down my hopes of making them at first because we don't buy canned biscuits. The reason we don't buy them is I don't buy ANYTHING that has partially hydrogenated oil in it, and every kind of canned biscuit I've found has that. But then I got to thinking (dangerous I know) and I decided why the heck don't I make home made biscuits and do the same thing!
so I use Bisquick Heart Smart (because the regular one has the evil oil in it, that crap is in so much! not going to get into that now though, lol).
and this is what you do
you take
2 cups Bisquick
3/4 cup milk (or 2/3 cup water)

Stir milk into Bisquick. Beat dough hard for 30 seconds to make it tighten up enough to handle. Turn dough on well-floured, cloth covered board. Pat, round it up and fold over 3 times. Roll out lightly with rolling pin, 1/2 to 1 inch thick, depending on how thick you want the biscuits.

now here is where you get out your fancy biscuit cutter (what you don't have one of those? then do what I do and take a drinking glass and use that, lol) and you cut out as many biscuits as you can with that. (you can either rework the dough from around the circles you just cut or leave it in strips and cook them the same way we'll make the donuts). Now how do you cut the hole out of the middle? well I'll tell you what I did. DON'T laugh...lol . you know how liquid meds come with with the little cup to dispense it? well I've got tons of these around and so I took one of those and used it to cut the center out. I sure hope you're not laughing...oh who am I kidding go on get it all out.....lol!! so know you have donuts and donut holes.
Now when I make these I do half of them covered in powdered sugar and half in a mix of cinnamon and sugar, so get a bowl of each ready. You can also just leave them plain, sometimes I leave a couple that way too.
now you want to have some oil (I use vegetable oil, lots of the recipes I came across said to use "deep fat", and yeah...I don't go for that, so veggie it is for me, lol) nice and hot on the stove in a pot big enough to fit 3 or 4 donuts or use a deep fryer (oil doesn't have to be super deep, the donuts will float) and heat to about 375 degrees. you're going to plop a couple of those babies in the oil for a minute or so (until the first side browns , and then you're gonna flip them. now when both sides are done you take them out set them out a plate with a paper towel to get the extra oil off, then coat them in the topping of your choice. Continue until they're all done. Enjoy.

Homemade Bagels

I've had several people ask about the homemade bagels that I make. I do 2 kinds now, plain for my hubby, who likes to put cream cheese on them, and cinnimon raisin for the little guy and I. I have to admit, I didn't come up with the recipe, I found it (with lots of wonderful pictures) at Tammy's Recipes. So I'm just going to link you right up to her. Homemade Bagels

September Calendar Topper

Credits-
Apple Festival Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Creative BlockBusters Calander Templates by LaWanna DesJardin
Fonts-Poplar Std and Sylfaen

Apple Honey Bundt Cake Recipe page

Credits-
Apple Festival Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Creative BlockBusters Calander Templates by LaWanna DesJardin
Font- Monotype Corsiva

Apple Honey Bundt Cake

I don't remember where I got the recipe for this, but I've had a few requests for the recipe. So I'm going to share it with you.

Apple Honey Bundt Cake

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 2 eggs
* 3/4 cup honey
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
* 3 apples - peeled, cored and shredded
* 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch Bundt pan.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and oil ( I used half a cup of oil and half a cup of applesauce -mine happened to be homemade, but store bought is good too, a little healthier and so yummy). Beat in the eggs until light, then stir in the honey and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice; stir into the batter just until moistened. Fold in the apples and nuts.

3. Bake for 50 to 65 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the crown comes out clean. Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before inverting onto a plate and tapping out of the pan.

In Remembrance

I lowered Aidan's ears

ok so this is my logic. It's was almost time for Aidan to get a hair cut. I usually take him to a kids place, keeps him at ease, and it's fun for him. But it's kinda of far away to take him for a hair cut unless I have other errands out that way and that doesn't happen often. So I've toyed with the idea of picking up a hair cutting "kit" and doing both of my guys hair. and Ian is LONG overdue for a trim (I love you babe but I don't dig the hair long enough to go in a ponytail). So I figured try it on on the little guy then go after the big guy! The little guy was just starting to get shaggy, I figured I just follow how his hair is now. no biggie. so here's the before and after shots, I'm pretty happy with it. and once I give Ian a hair cut the thing will have paid for itself.



oh Ian!! you're next! :)

Speed Scrap Layout

So one of my design teams that I'm on had a couple of speed scraps today. It was lots of fun and I did two layouts. so I'm a happy girl.
here's the two layouts


Credits:
Started out with a template by Simply Yin
Macho Flowers by Merkeley Designs
Dusty by Merkeley Designs (stitches, fastener)
Font- Myriad Pro

Credits:
Private (short stack) Paper Pack by Merkeley Designs
Dusty by Merkeley Designs (stitches, arrow, pin)
Macho Flowers By Merkeley Designs (journaling block)
Say It WIth Cubes by Merkeley Designs
fonts-Monotype Cosiva and Sylfaen

Feet Are Funny

Here are a couple of pages I did with "Feet Are Funny" by Merkeley Designs

Relax layout

credits:Merkeley Designs "Either-Or" Designer Sampler

Oscraps Summer Fling Collab Kit layouts

I did two pages using this kit, I love the bright cheerful colors (which are not the norm for me).
(click images to see credits)



I did two pages using this kit, I love the bright cheerful colors (which are not the norm for me).

The Scrap Palace of Romeo

totally rocked! I won a weekend there, and went the weekend right before my birthday. I got to meet my friend Kathy, who I've known through a scrapping group for at least a couple of years. She's a real sweetie! Hopefully we can get together and scrap again. We totally didn't get any sleep while we were there. We were up until 4 both nights and up by 9:30 the next morning. It took a couple of days to recover! Anyway, the Palace is beautiful, it's an old Victorian, that is gorgeous inside and out. The food was fantastic!!! (just wish there was more of it, lol. The portions were healthy sized I'm sure, but I'm used to eating more). I sure hope we can go back again sometime. Here are a couple of pictures that Kathy took (I'm lame and kept forgetting to bring my camera down, lol).

Back row-Me and Kathy
Front row-Keitha and Mary

My Birthday

Ian stayed up all day again, and went with us to the zoo.
Here are a couple of pictures from our day.

So sad to hear...

that Bernie Mac passed away today. It's hard to believe that the man I ran into a little over a year ago at a local theater is gone. He was so nice in person, and always seemed so vibrant and alive. My thoughts are with his family.

Very talented and funny man, he'll be missed.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Here's a layout with the recipe for the jam I made. I can't remember where I found the recipe, if I find the link to it I'll link it up, but for now here's the recipe.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Ingredients:
4 cups rhubarb, thinly sliced
2 T. lemon juice
4 cups of fresh strawberries, sliced
10 cups of sugar
2 packages of fruit pectin

In large kettle combine all ingredients except sugar. Bring mixture to a full boil. Add sugar and keep stirring till sugar is fully dissolved. Return to boil and boil for one minute. Keep stirring. Remove from the burner and skim off the foam with a spoon.

Spoon the hot jam into hot pint or half-pint canning jars. I like to pour the jam into a glass 4-cup glass measuring cup first, then pour into jars, as this makes jam easier to pour into jars. Leave 1/4 inch of space at the top. Wipe jar rims clean and screw lids on firmly. Place the jars in boiling-water canner on high. When water begins to boil, set timer and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the jars from canner and cool on racks. Try not to disturb jam til it is cool. It may take several hours to set.

This should make about 12 half-pint jars

layout credits:

Designs by Sine template
Classic kit- Designs by Krista

2 new layouts

Designs by Sine template
Splash 'n Shine kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Peace and Quiet wordart by LaWanna DesJardin
font-Monotype Corsiva


Designs by Sine template
Macho Flowers kit by Merkeley Designs
font-Monotype Corsiva

Both of these layouts are of pictures from when the boys went camping last month, they had tons of fun!

Bagels

So, I've been on this...what would you call it? oh hell, I don't know what to call it. I've been on a kick I guess you could say, yeah we'll call it a kick, lol. I've been on this kick where I've been making things from scratch. I'm doing it for several reasons.
1- I like knowing what my family is eating, doing it this way there are no weird ingredients.
2- if I make it from scratch there isn't all that extra packaging, and it's actually cheaper most of the time.
and
3- I really enjoy it!
So I've done several things from scratch recently. I did Italian bread a month or so ago, and of course there were the donuts (I totally need to make some more of those!). And most recently I made homemade bagels. they came out totally yummy! and were super easy to make!
These are pictures of them fresh from the oven! and oh! oh! OH! are they good with my homemade jam on them!

Doing the Can-Can

Canning that is! So I'm totally new to canning. I've been researching it online for months and bought one of the "for Dummies" books about it. and a couple of weeks ago I gave it a shot. I went over to my mom's house to do it (our stove is one of those glass top ones, and the canning pot can't be used on it). So Our first day of canning we made Dill Pickles (we ended up with 9 quart sized jars, 7 of spears, and 2 of slices for burgers and such) and we made strawberry jam (11 8 ounce jars). The jam came out so good! I was so proud of us (my mama Vee helped). We're still waiting to taste the pickles, you have to let them sit so the flavor can soak in, we've got to wait for a couple more weeks for those.

Flash back to last Wednesday, we gave it another go. While searching for recipes before I came across a couple for strawberry rhubarb jam. Now I'd had never had rhubarb, I knew that I had heard of pie made from it though so I figured it must be pretty yummy, lol. So when we went to the farmers market the previous weekend I saw some great looking rhubarb, picked up some of that, and then we got some organic strawberries at the grocery store. Well this jam....let me tell you...whew! it is SOOOOOOOOOOO good. I have a new favorite! seriously! why don't they sell this kind in stores? I mean, it is such a wonderful combination! I'm eating some of it on toast as I sit here, and it is just fantabulous! We made 9 jars of the stuff and I have a feeling we're going to need to make more!

Too Precious

This is a picture of Aidan and Nanny, when he was 7 months old. This was taken during out first trip with him to NJ. We were at the 4th of July BBQ at Aunt Linda's. Aidan was such a good baby, he would pretty much sit with anyone, very easy going. And over the years I've always been so impressed with how well he adapts while on vacation, he remembers everyone's names, and always plays so nicely with Nanny. He's pretty special too, he's the first Great Grandbaby on the McB side of the family, and the second on the K side. Aidan's is very lucky to have 3 out of 4 great grandparents in his life, not to mention having the best Grammy and Grandpa in the whole world. He's a very loved little boy.
Any way...I've always loved this picture of Nanny and Aidan, it's just so sweet!

Another Lost Tooth!

Aidan lost another tooth last night! seems like they're coming out almost as fast as they came in. I'll post a new picture of the gap-py grin in a bit.

ETA- added the photo, look at that gap! The first tooth that came out, was almost all the way in when the second one came out.

Perfectly Calm Layout

One of the waterfalls down in Turkey Run, Indiana. My hubby took this picture while camping with my little guy.


The word art is from the Oscraps' collab kit, O-Escape

Just Be layout

journaling:
with your crazy work schedule it’s not often we get a chance to goof around and relax, I’m so glad I caught us both with the camera enjoying a chance to just be...


Oscraps' oEscape Collab kit

A couple of new digi pages

It's about time I got some scrapping done, doesn't seem like there are enough hours in the day sometimes. Thank goodness for templates as a jumping off point. Here's the 2 new pages-
Wright Family

I used a template by Moriginals and the Kit I used is Merkeley Designs Americana Days.
Laura and Rob

I started with a template by Shazbutts Digiscrapz, and I used LaWanna DesJardin's brand new kit, This Bliss

Mama and Me

Mama and me
Journaling:
This is how she always is for me, this smiling happy angel in my life. She is the most positive person I know. There is nothing I wouldn't do for her, and I know that the feeling is mutual. When things are overwhelming me, she's the first to step in and help. She is my own personal saving grace. She just makes things better. I love her more than words can say. I am truly bless to have this wonderful woman as my godmother. She will always be my mama.


Started out with a template by Meridith Tiede (Moriginals)
LaWanna DesJardin's Sweet As Can Be Kit
Font-Monotype Corsiva

Happy Birthday Mama!

This is my Mama! she may technically be my god-mother, but in my heart she will always be "Mama". She's helped to make me who I am, she's always always always there for me, and I don't know what I would do with out her. And today is her birthday! so from all of us, Happy Birthday! We sure do love you!

A new month!

Holy cow! Where is the time going? Wasn't it just New Years? I'm shaking my head over here, half the dog-gone year is gone! sigh. But alas, time marches on. So with the new month comes a new daily download kit, created by Tina, Irene and me, at DDD. Last month's kit was a HUGE success. Here's the preview for this month's kit, there's a new link each day at this thread. At the end of the month you'll have the whole thing, and if you post a layout in the gallery at DDD, you get a posting bonus that matches the kit.

There are still some freebie on my design blog, the link is in the sidebar. They'll only be available for a few more days, then some of them are going into the store at ScrapDebris.

Rubix Cube

I did this layout for my BOM challenge at DDD.

I don't have pictures of this, and I don't know what ever happened to that particular cube, but the story needed to be told.
Journaling:
The Story of Felicia and the Rubix Cube
Once upon a time there was a little girl. She was fascinated by the fact that her mama could figure out a rubix cube. Sometimes it took her mama a long time to figure it out, but she always did. Well, one day when the little girl was only about 6 years old, she decided she wanted to try. So she grabbed the cube, without permission,twisted it all up and attempted to fix it up. well, time went by and it got closer to the time when her mama was going to come home and the little girl was no where near figuring out that cube! She knew her mama would be annoyed that the she had mixed it up after so much hard work to put it back. So the little girl got the bright idea to peel off the stickers and put them back on the "right" way. She finished just in time to put it back where it usually sat. Mama came home and saw that cube and said "what on earth happened to my rubix cube! Every single sticker was either crooked or falling off. The little confessed and everyone had a good laugh. 20 years later people still joked about it, and she still wasn't allowed to help with a cube again!
Credits
Stock photos from stock.exchng (user: MeHere)
Blog Freebie by Lilach Oren
Wheels Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Wheels Extras by LaWanna DesJardin

Little Me

A picture of me as a tiny tot, sitting in the rocking chair that I've passed down to my son.
Template 59 by the Template Club
Dusty Kit by Merkeley Designs
Font- Georgia

Goings on

Did ya'll think I fell off the planet?I know there haven't been many posts lately. Nothing much is new. Aidan and I made bread last night, there is one slice left, lol. Just got done eating dinner before Ian left for work, I made spaghetti and meat- a-balls (you have to say it like that, meat-a-balls), and home made spaghetti sauce. Not to bad for a first time with the sauce, will use the rest of it tomorrow with the meatball sandwiches. Probably will try my hand at making Italian bread for that.
Gas prices are INSANE. If they go up much more, it won't be worth me working. I'll miss my discount, and the people of course. Oh well, what can I do?
I'm off to read a book to the little man.
later taters!

My 1st Car LO

credits
Creative Block Busters Set 4 by LaWanna DesJardin
Wheels Page Kit by LaWanna DesJardin
Wheels Extras By LaWanna DesJardin
Font-Monotype COrsiva

2 new digi pages

Ashley Mega Kit, by DigiSueBee (Susan Blanton)
Font- Monotype Corsiva




Journaling: Ian, I always wanted to play an instrument, and it's always thrilled me that you used to play the violin. Apparently you played really well with out practice, and amazing with it. I wonder if Aidan will play one day?


Credits:
Stock photo from morgueFile
Kit used is Ashley Mega Kit by DigiSueBee (Susan Blanton)
Template 63 by The Template Club
Font Monotype Corsiva

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all the mommies out there are having a lovely and relaxing Mother's Day. I wish the sun were shining here, but alas it has been raining, all night, sigh. what can you do?!

First Day

of our Daily Download at DDD.
Here's the preview

Happy NSD!

I hope everyone had a great National Scrapbooking Day. I behaved and didn't spend, lol. I've been working behind the scenes at DDD to get ready for some post-NSD fun. I've been dabbling in digital design. I've made several little kits. I'm no pro, but I thought they were cute. I'm on the Creative Team for Ashley who owns the site. She's been mighty busy lately, and hasn't had a lot of time to spend there (that happens when you add a new little person to the family) and the rest of the team (Tina and Irene- hi girls!) and I have been trying to keep things hopping there. So we decided we'd make a HUGE digital kit, and give a few pieces of it away each day (starting on the 7th- we figured we'd give everyone a chance to recover from the over load of NSD). So here's a sneak peak of the kit, keep in mind this is just a teaser, this kit is huge! I should know I split up the downloads-insert big grin here.