What's Your Favorite...

As you know I'm honored to be the Guest Designer over at WhatIsYourFaveThing and for this next challenge... Julie thought it would be the perfect time to do... What's your favorite Holiday!!!! I know you all have favorite things about each holiday, but what is your favorite??? Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving... whatever it is join in the fun and make anything you want... a card, a scrapbook layout or a holiday project... anything to show off your favorite holiday! There are 2 prizes... a gift certificate to Scrapbook.com and a surprise from me!! So come on over and join in this fun challenge...

Anyway... here's mine... my favorite holiday is Christmas!!! I couldn't decide on what part of Christmas was my favorite for the layout. Which part of the holiday best represented my love of the holiday... so I decided to make a Christmas Tree with all my favorite traditions under each ornament... like pictures with Santa... decorating the tree... putting up Christmas lights! You know all the traditions which make Christmas special!

So... pop on over... and share your favorite... I know I can't wait to see what you come up with!!!!

What's Cooking Sun{day}

One of my fondest memories of my grandmother, is helping her make something yummy. She was a wonderful cook... and I want to pass on the tradition of making cooking fun with Rainee... The other day I emailed my Aunt Dolly to send me some recipes... some of her favorites and my grandmothers. My aunt sent me several (hand written) recipes... and I could hardly wait to make them. After going through them, I thought I'd make the Coffee Cake first... Steve loves coffee cake and whenever we go to Starbucks, he is sure to get some... so this was perfect. Now he can have coffee cake at home.

This morning before Steve woke up, Rainee and I quietly went into the kitchen and made the Coffee Cake. Rainee had such fun, especially when she saw how much 'sugar' was in the cake!!! She couldn't wait until it was done, so she could take a bite... she loves sugar, but then what kid doesn't?? So, between Rainee and Steve... this recipe was a BIG BIG hit!! Rainee kept saying... mommy this cake is the bomb!!! We make the best stuff together!!! Steve said it was sooooooo much better than the Starbucks coffee cake... which, wow, is a huge complement... because theirs is really good.

I'm sooooo happy I asked my aunt for some recipes... even now, I can't wait to try the others!!! Do you have some family favorites you don't have in your recipe box??? If so, you might want to call your mom, grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin... to make sure you have them to pass along... they are something to cherish...

Here's a recipe from my family to yours... this is for when you want something easy, sweet... and delicious. Enjoy!!! Let me know if you liked it... bye for now.... I'm off for another cup of coffee and just one more slice... Thank you Aunt Dolly!

Coffee Cake

Batter:
1 Cup Sugar
2 Cups Flour
3 tsp. Baking Powder
2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 Egg
1 Cup Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Salt

• Preheat oven to 350º. Prepare 11"x17"x2" baking pan OR a bunt pan.
• In medium bowl, using an electric mixer, mix above ingredients together.
• Pour batter in the prepared pan.

Topping:
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
4-5 Tbsp. Melted Butter over top

• Combine together and sprinkle it over the top of the batter.

Bake cobbler for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Frosting:
1/8 Cup Milk
1 Cup Confectioners' Sugar (powdered sugar)

• Mix together, then swirl a thin glaze over cake while it's still warm (not hot).

Happy Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving... today & every day I'm thankful for Steve & Rainee. Even though there are many days when they bug each other... and days when Rainee seems to be whining all day & Steve gets cranky over the simplest things... even then... I'm thankful! I'm thankful for the ability to change my attitude, when I see & take in the everyday blessings all around me!

I am also thankful for my father... over the many years of my life, he has always been there for me. He would do anything to make sure I was taken care of. If I needed something moved, my car needed fixing, to unclog a sink or just listen to me... he has always been there taking care of me. He has always been a care taker... taking care of each of kids... even now, living in a Retirement Home he cares for those who are worse off than he is. He gives everything he has... without question never asking for anything in return.... I am grateful my life has been blessed with his kindness, the richness of his giving heart and his unconditional love. I hope in my life I will be a reflection of his wonderful qualities... Thank you dad... for being an example to live by! I miss you, love you and am so very thankful for you!

I am also so very thankful for each of you who come here... I am thankful for your kind hearts and your thoughtful words. I am delighted, blessed and grateful our lives have crossed... I know my life is better for being touched by you!!! Thank you!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

More... Fun In The Dirt...

Really quick before my day starts... I thought I'd share one more layout with Rainee playing in the dirt... I couldn't resist these photos... Plus I wanted to use some of my new favorite products... I love love love the corrugated letter by Jillibean Soup... they are soooooo much fun... and I'm really enjoying the Fancy Pants felt... I also have some Fancy Pants Christmas felt I can't wait to use...

Do you have any new favorites... or something you can't wait to use??

(Materials: Paper: My Minds Eye, DCWV, Jillibean Soup, Rainee Tablet of School Paper, Letter Stickers: Making Memories, Letters: Jillibean Soup, Felt: Fancy Pants, Button: Vintage, Thread: Wrights)

Gobble Gobble News...

So I told you about Rainee's Thanksgiving Feast... and how excited she was about it???? Well, on Thursday, she came home sick and still had a fever Friday... so we completely missed out on the feast. She was really upset & I was so sad for her. She was still sick on Saturday and it looked like we weren't going to have our family dinner on Sunday... but by the end of Saturday, her fever had broken and the family party was going on as planned!!!

All day Sunday Rainee kept asking when are the guest coming... is the party starting??? She was so excited about everyone coming!!! We had a great time... Steve did a deep fried turkey and I made everything else... Rainee sure was happy once everyone was here... I just had to get her playing around the table with her turkey.... 'gobble gobble I'm sure hungry!'... it was too too cute!!!

Yesterday was a day of rest, plus a little left over dishes... we were all pretty exhausted. I love doing Thanksgiving dinner, but I seem to do the going going going thing for days... that when it's all done & everyone is gone... I crash! So having a day to do nothing... sure was a nice thing!!!

Our week is still pretty full... we still have a lot going on over the next few days... Steve has something planned for today, don't know what... but I'm sure it will be something fun... Rainee has a movie date planned for just the two of us sometime this week... and then there's Thanksgiving at Kathleen's family dinner... and those are just the thing I know about... you know how a day can go... anything can happen!!! Have a great few days... and thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Things On My Plate...

Working working working... on so many things I've only had a few precious moments the last day or two to take a breath.... I've been working in Rainee's class... they're getting ready for the Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast on Friday... can't wait, it's going to be a super fun time for the kids (and parents)... so I'll have pictures of the Feast to post sometime this weekend...

I've also been working on the house.... you know getting it over the top ready for Thanksgiving... and then there's the shopping for all the food... we're doing an early dinner with Steve's family (Sunday), because we've been invited to Kathleen's (Austin's girlfriend) family Thanksgiving dinner... it's a pretty big deal, since this is the first time any of Austin's girlfriends have every invited us to anything.... so, of course, we had to say yes... could be the start of 2 Thanksgiving dinners every year... oh my the food...

I'm also working on a business project... I've been praying praying praying for some kind of business thing I could do from home... because I really don't want to have to go back to work, but want to help financially... and it happened... I woke up in the middle of the night with an idea several weeks back... and I've been working on it! Very excited and I'll let you know all the details... soon... but right now I'm working working working on getting stuff done... I'm a busy girl... excited, but very very busy!!!

I've also been working on some holiday graphic design freelance... gotta love that!!! I love last minute jobs... I love the rush of beating a ticking clock and it's deadline!!!

Lastly I thought I'd share my latest lo... I just loved this photo of Rainee... I love how her eyes are so expressive... how they sparkle when she's happy... so you know I just had to make a lo with it... it's Rainee in a nutshell... my sweet, happy, dirty little girl!!! I'm still working on the other dirt day lo... Plus I'm nearly finished with my December Daily shells... I've been wanting to do this, but it's just never worked out... but this year I made a point of doing it early... it's super super simple, but I'm very excited to have it nearly done so when December rolls around, all I have to do is put the photos in... yeah!!!

Well, I think that's it for today... I'm off.... to work work work on all things I have on my plate. What are you working on??? Do you have a plate full?

(Materials: Paper: DCWV, My Minds Eye, Jillibean Soup, Felt: FancyPants, Tags: Jillibean Soup, Button: vintage)

Playing in the Dirt... Plus Organized Christmas...

Well since we moved into our new home back in April, we've been wanting to do some gardening... to spruce up the place... but whenever we went shopping for plants... I wanted one thing and Steve would want another... so for awhile now it's been on the back burner... until the other day when we were in Home Depot, and I saw some beautiful rose trees... I couldn't believe we both agreed on them... I'll show photos of them once they're all planted...

But what I wanted to share with you is my dear Rainee's love for DIRT... she thrives in it... she makes a mess gets really stinkin' dirty and has the loveliest time... it reminds me of when I use to make mud pies with my brother... we'd have a blast!!! Anyway... while I was doing a bit of gardening... Rainee was having her own good time... and well it was just too cute, I just had to take pictures... she was dirty dirty dirty by the time we finished... but oh so happy!!!

Really quick I thought I'd share a site I found while surfing around... it's called Organized Christmas... It has a ton of stuff, and during the holidays it's nice to have things go smoothly... so I thought I'd share this find with you... there is so many things on the site... but I'm doing the pick and choose thing... things that what will actually work out well for me, my family and our holiday... the downloads are free... I hope it helps you... since the holidays are just around the corner... I can't believe it, can you???

Have a lovely day and thanks sooooooo much for stopping by!!!

What's Your Favorite...

Julie at WhatIsYourFaveThing blog has asked me to be the Guest Designer for the month of November!!! Tell me I'm not excited!!! I have really enjoyed doing their challenges... I don't know about you, but I don't really do many layouts about me. Mostly it's about Rainee or us as a family... so sharing my favorite things... has not only been insightful but also a way for Rainee (& Steve) to know a little more about me... so Thank You Thank You Thank You... Julie for choosing me to be the guest designer... I am honored!!! And thank you for always inspiring me!

I'm excited about this first challenge... 'What's your favorite decade?'... I knew right away what my favorite decide was... I have always loved the 50's! You know.. Elvis... Barbie... Cool Cars... the Drive-In's... the Jukebox... Malt Shops... Ozzie & Harriet... I Love Lucy... plus I've always loved hearing the stories my parents would tell of family, friends and parties... Life was simple, but very, very good! On my layout I just had to put pictures of my parents... I love these photos of them in those... cool sunglasses!!! Plus it wouldn't be a 50's layout without Barbie!

I would love for you to come over to WhatIsYourFaveThing and play along with us!!! As an added treat, I am offering up a surprise for each of the winner for each of the challenges in November... you're going to love seeing what the design team has picked for their favorite decade... so I hope you will join in and stop by to say hi!!!

(Materials: Paper: DCWV, Chipboards Stickers & Letters: American Craft, Rhinestones: Queen & Co., Car & Barbie: Downloads from the Internet, Glitter Glue: Sparkly Glitter Glue)

What's Your Favorite...

The challenge for WhatIsYourFaveThing blog... this week is 'What's your favorite vacation?"... Here's mine... Paris...

When I was 18, my dad finagled me into being a driver for a convention he was in charge of... and the people I had the privilege of taking around were from France. You know how it is when you're 18 you don't want to do something and it ends up being one of those experiences that turns into being one you'll never forget... and brings other opportunities... That was me. Once the convention was over and my touring duties... the friends I'd made were staying in the U.S. for a few months... and I was able to go site seeing with them... we went to Northern California, Tijuana, & Colorado... it was the summer after graduation ... and it ended up being a summer to remember.

Which brings me to Paris... one of the girls I made friends with was getting married... she sent me an invitation... I was thrilled, but there was no way I could afford to go... I was in college and working part time... there was just no way. Then about a month before Chantal's wedding, my dear dear dear dad surprised me with a ticket to go to France for the wedding... all I needed to come up with spending money. So I took on extra baby-sitting jobs... for the next 4 weeks I worked hard to make some extra money...

So, in the spring I went to France. I went to the wedding, which was beautiful... then while Chantal & John were on the honeymoon in Peru, I was able to tour the country and visit all the friends I'd made the summer before. I even postponed coming home for 3 1/2 months... so it truly was a trip of a life time.

I went to all over France... everywhere I went I stayed with friends from the convention... Paris, Versailles, Mount St. Michel, Marseilles, Cannes, Nice, St. Étienne, Rouen, Lyon... that's just the small list of the places I visited... I loved the beautiful country sides... the blue blue Mediterranean Sea shores... the beautiful castles, and hearing their history... tasting all the different cheeses and wines.But I would have to say, my first memory of this trip to France was seeing Paris at night and all the beautiful the city lights... the Eiffel Tower... Champs Elysees... Arc de Triomphe... Montmarte... the Louvre... Notre Dame... Opera Garnier... the Siene River... the cafes... I could go on and on and on... even now if I close my eyes I can see it. All together, France was my favorite vacation ever... but my favorite memory of the trip, would have to be Paris at night... it truly is beautiful. I hope someday to go back with Steve and Rainee... I would love to share this with them....

So, what's been your favorite vacation?? The challenge ends today... go check it out!!!

(Materials: Paper: Me&My Big Idea, Core'dinations, DCWV, Tags: Creative Imaginations, Flowers: Prima, Ribbon: Making Memories, Letter Stickers: Memory Makers, Button: Vintage)

Autumn Day...

First I want to wish a happy birthday to my sweet niece Autumn.... I hope your day is extra special!!! Rainee misses her cousin soooooo much (we all do for that matter)... wish you were here so we could celebrate all together... Enjoy your day!!! We hope your year is full of new, wonderful and exciting things... Happy Happy Happy Birthday, Autumn!!!

Onto the layout... I'm sure you know how it is hard to get a 'good' picture of you and your kids together... either it's blurry, you're looking one way and the kids are looking another... something is always wrong with it! Well I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this one of the two of us... this rarely happens anyway... whoo hoooooo, I was happy! Anyway I love these photos.... and I wanted to this layout to have the feel of Autumn... I just love the colors of Autumn... the rich reds, oranges, browns and yellows... and there is always just a hint of green lingering somewhere. Beautiful...

For the title I used my new Gypsy... and can I say it's just too much fun!!! I've been playing with it... but this is the first thing I've cut out. I love the fact that I didn't have to change cartridges every time I wanted to do a different 'font'.... and I could position the images exactly where I wanted them... then there was the resizing, welding... oh my gosh there is so much I love about this little guy. On the title... I used striped pattern paper... before it was nearly impossible... I've wasted a lot of paper trying to get something just right... but with the Gypsy it worked perfect. I knew exactly where I wanted it to cut... and it did it... amazing! I have a new love... and I can't wait to do more project with it...Thanks for stopping by... have a lovely lovely day!!!

(Materials: Paper: Core'dinations, Basic Grey, Recollections, Tag: Jellibean Soup, Stamp: Technique Tuesday - Ali Edwards, Ink: Staz-on, Pen: Pigma)

Veterans Day & This Fall Moment...

As this day begins I want to thank and honor our Veterans for serving our country... and also to those who are serving our Country. We have been blessed by your service. Thank you for watching over us...
















As for scrapping... I have to say... it's so nice getting back in to the groove... being so sick you can't scrap... really isn't fun. Rainee's been enjoying being back in the studio too... she's making cards... and as always sitting on my lap, helping me with everything... life here is getting back to normal... and I'm very thankful for that!!!

Now for the layout... I just love this picture of Rainee from our day at the pumpkin patch... I wanted the photo to stand out on this lo... so I made it pretty simple... plus I had these beautiful leaf shape cutouts leftover from my Fall Window for the Favorite Season Project... that I couldn't pass up using... I also have been wanting to use these new Jellibean Soup Corrugated Letters I got at the last scrapbook convention... they are just way tooooooo fun!!

So even though it's a simple lo... I love that Rainee is the focus... and just a few added little photos from our day... it's just what I wanted!!! Thanks so much for stopping by... have a lovely day!!!
(Materials: Paper: Fancy Pants, Letters: Jellibean Soup, Stamps: Technique Tuesday - Ali Edwards, Ink: Ranger, Pen: Pigma)

Haunted Halloween...

As I posted the other day, Rainee had a blast in the Haunted House on Halloween... she would have gone again and again... if I'd have let her... she was enjoying seeing all the' scarrrrrrrrry things' as I was going through our Halloween pictures ... these aren't the best photos... you know how it is trying to take a quick photo in the dark without a flash AND watch your child so no one takes them... so these may not be the best photos... but you still get the idea... besides Rainee loves them. Maybe next year with my new camera I'll have better pictures...

Anyway... here's the latest layout with the 'scarrrrrrrrrry things' we saw on Halloween night....& I just had to put that cute little spider in there hanging down from the scary Raggedy Ann's hand... thanks for stopping by... and have a fab day!
(Materials: Paper: Core'dations, Adorn it, Recollections, Stickers: Recollections, We R Memory Keepers, Brad: Imaginisce, Pen: Gelly Roll)

Certificate of Reading Achievement...

Rainee & I have had a ritual since she was a baby to read books every night before she goes to sleep... and now in Kindergarten they require the students to read (w/parents) at least 20 books a month... well... Rainee far exceed their expectations... and read 81 books!!! Because of her outstanding achievement, she received the Certificate of Reading Achievement Award for the most books... Yeah Rainee!!!!

I'm sure you know this when it comes to night time rituals... there are some nights that are better than others... and some nights you're just too tired and only want to read a couple... but this always changes once you get started... for us... we just keep reading and reading and reading!!! I'm so happy she's excited about it & loves reading...

Congratulations Rainee... Job well done!!! I'm very very proud of you!!!!

I was given this award by my blogging friend Kristin over at Attempt Creativity. She always has something cute to share... Thank you so much Kristin for thinking of me!!

The rules are this: I need to pass this award on to five people, post on their blog to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer a list of questions in ONE word.

1. Where is your cell phone? Table
2. Your hair? Natural
3. Your mother? InHeaven
4. Your father? Loving
5. Your favorite food? Everything
6. Your dream last night? Crazy
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Underway
9. What room are you in? Livingroom
10. Your hobby? Scrapbooking
11. Your fear? Bugs
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Lazy
15. Muffins? Homemade
16. Wish list item? Success
17. Where did you grow up? Mostly California
18. Last thing you did? Blogged
19. What are you wearing? Jammies
20. Your TV? DVR
21. Your Pets? Champ
22. Friends? Wonderful
23. Your life? Happy
24. Your mood? Happy
25. Missing someone? Always
26. Vehicle? Vue
27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
28. Your favorite store? Walmart/Target (couldn't pick one)
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Lately
32. Your best friend? Fun
33. One place that I go to over and over? School
34. Facebook? Trying
35. Favorite place to eat? Flemmings

Here are the people I'm passing this award on to, I know it's only suppose to be 5 but couldn't stop at just 5 so here is my list:
Joan @ September Tea
Jen @ jencropable
Pam@ One Gals Trash
Karen @ Lilacs and Lupines
Jana @ Preprosto Bogastvo (Simple Abundance)
MJ @ Pewaukee Daily Photo
Amanda @ One Scrappy
I also want to give a shout out to these two... they've already had this award... but I just have to mention them... Julie @ The Tucker Wolek Clan and Deana @ (diva)logues - I love their blogs!!

Trick or Treat Layout

This year for Halloween Rainee decided she was either going to be a GI Joe Ninja, Hannah Montana or a Puppy Dog... and Puppy Dog won out. We went everywhere for costumes, but we either couldn't find a doggie or if we did, it was just too small... so in the end I made her costume... and she of loves it. I think she makes an adorable puppy dog. As for our friend Kenny... Kenny decided to be an 'Alien Brain Head'... we're still laughing over it... his mom couldn't figure out where he got the idea, but that's what he wanted to be... it's just adorable!!! For his brain, she used a brain jello mold with tissue paper and glow sticks to make it glow... then stuck some eyes on it. Lizzy had no idea what to do, or if it was going to be what Kenny pictured... but in the end Kenny was seriously happy with the results!!! I think it's adorable!!!

Now right before we left to go Trick or Treating... we just had to get a quick shot of them together... too cute! They had a great time, got lots of candy and couldn't stop talking about the haunted house they got to go in.... they loved it! Rainee and Kenny had a hauntingly good time...

(Materials: Paper: DCWV, Adorn It, Karen Foster, Stickers: Adorn It, We R Memories Keepers, atd, Felt buttons: Fancy Pants, Felt Bats: Misc, Thread: Wrights)

Presents, Presents & More Presents...

Steve & Rainee, pretty much blew me away with birthday presents... here's what I was blessed with... plus there's still the little trip Steve has planned for all of us later in the month and dinner one night this week... I think I'm seriously lucky and very very very blessed!!!

A "Jonas" Build-A-Bear... for my little Rainee...













A beautiful Tiffany's necklace...










A Cricut Gyspsy...







Ashton... oh no... I mean the...

Nikon D5000 camera...













And beautiful cards from my friends and family... I'm still in shock... what a birthday! Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes... I really did have a super day!!!

Happy Birthday...

Well, it's my birthday...

This morning, just after breakfast... Rainee & Steve brought out some cute little cupcakes and sang happy birthday...what a lovely way to start the day!!!

Rainee can't wait until after school... she's got our day all planned... because Steve has to work this evening, she's decided we're going to lunch, then to Build-a-Bear so she can get 'her birthday present'... bet you can't guess who that present is for??? lol... Steve is planning something but on another day, because of having to work...

Anyway... that's what my day is so far... can't wait to see what else they have planned!!!