What's Your Favorite...

Celebrity??? What a fun challenge!!! All of us over at TAAFOMFT had such fun with it! I had a great time with this one. I was going to do just mine... but before I stared I thought it would be interesting to find out who my family favs were... I hadn't planned on scrapping all of them... but when I asked each one... they both said the same thing... "I have two... I have a favorite male and a favorite female... and I can't choose between them"... and when I thought about it... I did too! I couldn't decide which of ours I liked more... I loved all our choices... so decided it would be something different to do a layout with all of our favs on it! It will be amusing to look back on and see if our favorites have changed. Mine... probably not... Steve's either... but Rainee... I'm sure hers WILL change... and someday, when she looks back at her choices at 6 years old... she may be shocked!! So... as of today... 2010... my families favorite celebrities are....
Rainee: Joe Jonas & Demi Lavato
Steve: Diane Lane & Clint Eastwood
Mine: Sean Connery & Sandra Bullock

This was a delightful challenge!!! Now it's your turn??? Who is your favorite? Or do you too have more than one? And a must must must is seeing what our design team did with their favorites!!! They are wonderful... as usual!!! Some chose one... others couldn't decide on one... and others... well I think you need to check them out!!!! Go check them out and join us for this fav challenge... we'd love to see what your favorites are... over at TAAFOMFT!!!!

Monday List...

I love a good list... and I do them here every once in a while... and today... is one of those days. With the Holidays quickly approaching... I have a few thing I need to get done before Wednesday... the first of December....

• Get the dates on my December Daily
• Make sure my extra camera batteries are charged and ready when I need them
• Go over my list of daily December things to do with Rainee & our family
• Make and print my advent calendar cards for my calendar
• Get the Christmas decorations out
• Grab a holiday coffee at Starbucks
• Make Rainee's naughty or nice chart
• Make Rainee's Christmas list page - for family and of course Santa
• Slow down and enjoy each day

For each day in December, in my new advent calendar (which I'll show you on Wednesday).... I decided to put something to do each day in them, instead of trying to find little tiny things to put in the other advent calendar I have.

I have to give credit where credit is due... and this wonderful idea came from my wonderfully creative friend, Deana. I remembered it from last year and thought it was such a great idea... I wanted to adopt it for our family this year! .... But... But... But... although I have nearly something for every day.... I'm still lacking a few... so I'm putting it out there... if you and your family do something... anything fun... during the holiday season... I'd love to know about it... so maybe I can use it for one of my days.... Can't wait to hear what you come up with.... and have a happy Monday!!!

Black Friday Sale....

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Don't miss our 3DAY Black Friday Sale!!! Buy ONE ~ Get ONE 1/2 OFF!!! Or get a gift certificate for someone special... and let them choose their favorite style! EverydayFrames really are the perfect holiday gift for the scrapbooker in your life.

Weekly Gratitude...

Thanksgivings. I am grateful for those who came before me to set out for a new land... for freedom. For those who forged ahead in all degrees... from despair to hope... for what seemed a dream to them... freedom. I am thankful for for this day. Grateful, I am able to spend it with my family... Grateful for the hope this day represents and what it brought to our country. I am grateful for their dream fulfilled... which helps me to forge forward to make my dreams... my hopes... a reality.  I have been blessed by those who came before me and I am blessed to live in this country... and blessed by the freedoms it brings. Thank you for the courage to follow your dream... so that I may have this day... for my freedom... and for my dreams. I am grateful. I am blessed.

What's Cooking To{day}...

Yeah, we're all ready to start cooking Thanksgiving dinner... unless something disastrous happens... all the shopping is done! I don't want to have to go shopping again until after Thanksgiving!! Yesterday, Rainee and I went shopping at Trader Joe's for our free-range turkey plus most of our shopping... I love that place!! Then to Stater Bros. where we finished off the rest of our shopping! And our deal of the day was... 10 lbs. of potatoes for .69¢!!! wow!

I am really looking forward to cooking.... I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner! I don't know about you but, we have the traditional dinner... plus we like to add one new thing to the menu. We watched the Throwdown with Bobby Flay and Ree Drummond and I might check out her potatoes recipe.... but Bobby made brussel sprouts with pomegranate molasses... and Steve's decided HE HAS TO HAVE THEM... me??? Yuk! I've never ate a brussel sprout I've liked... so I'm making them just for him. Of course, I will try them, but... I'm not looking forward to it!

One recipe which has become a a tradition in our home is my Cranberry Salsa. It adds a nice little spice to our dinner... I love love love it!! I've found over the years this recipe makes such a big batch... I have enough for Thanksgiving and some Christmas canning. It's made an easy holiday gift for family, friends and neighbor's... plus I like having it around for when I have a craving... it goes great with tortilla chips. It's also a wonderful appetizer using 8 oz. of cream cheese and pour about 1 ½ cups of Cranberry Salsa over cream cheese and serve with your favorite crackers or chips. YUM!

So... to{day} I thought I'd share the recipe with you... adding a little spice to your Thanksgiving dinner... and ya never know it may become a tradition in your home too. Enjoy!!


Cranberry Salsa ~

2 Cans WHOLE Cranberry Sauce (I like Ocean Spray)
1 Large Onion (chopped)
1 Bunch of Cilantro (chopped)
Jalapeno Peppers (3-6peppers) (chopped & seeded) - - I use 3... I like to taste my food
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
Juice of 1 Lime

In a large bowl, place chopped onions, cilantro, jalapenos, WHOLE cranberry sauce, cumin and lime juice. Mix together. Let sit overnight, so all the flavor blend together. I have made it the same day... first thing in the morning and let it sit for 6-8 hours... and it's fine.

I hope you enjoy it!!! Let me know if you use it, I'd love to know what you think... do you love it? or hate it?  Have a terrific Tuesday!!!

Happy Monday...

Good Morning & Happy Monday! Although it was a cold rainy weekend, it was wonderful to warmed ourselves by the fire to get the chill out.... Rainee is so excited for the colder weather so we can have a fire... she's have one every night all year if she could. So, even though is was raining we did have a fun weekend and I'm really looking forward our time together during her Thanksgiving week vacation.

To start her vacation off we did a little crafting at Michael's, on Saturday. They have a fun new craft every weekend now until Christmas... which is going to be so much fun for Rainee. She did a Christmas stocking... and although we don't need another.... it was so great getting out of the house to do something together. I think it's perfect... but once we were home, Rainee's decided it needs some snowflakes plus Mr. Snowman needs a hat... so we'll be finishing it this week.
 

Today, we're off to do our Thanksgiving shopping. I wanted to do it this weekend, but there was a scheduled outage in our area for upgrades... so I didn't want anything to go bad... so today... we are shopping. Plus I think we're going to try to fit some scrapping projects in. I love doing something fun with Rainee for our Thanksgiving table... so we'll have to see what we come up with...

I also wanted to thanks... Kim (kimwhitten.blogspot.com) and Mandie (mandiesmumblings.blogspot.com)... they did a blog-candy blog swap and I was one of the winners!!!! I don't usually win anything... so, I'm very excited... and wanted to make sure to say thank you! thank you! thank you! What a wonderful surprise... yeah me!!!

Until tomorrow... I hope you have a happy day...

You Look.... Fabulous!!!

I told you a couple of weeks ago I pulled out some old photos of Rainee... that I've still to scrap. Well, here's another one!

When worked full time, there was one thing I was really good at... and that was keeping notes about places we've been, things we've done, memories we shared.... as well as some of Rainee's first's... like this photo... these are her first pair of sunglasses. When I stopped working... I stopped taking as many notes... don't know why... guess I figured I'm home... I'll remember... right! So now, looking back at all those notes... I realized I need start that old habit again... Because there are so many things happening every day.... I can't remember them all and I don't want to look back and say... What was this??? What were we doing??? I'm getting out my note pad... I don't know if I'll catch up but I can start fresh... it's a good habit to keep... anywayyyyyyy here's the latest baby-Rainee photo... scrapped!!! Yeah!

The hat she's wearing was a baby gift... and she wore it everywhere... we loved it... she loved it!!! We use to say... "You look fabulous!"... whenever she wore it... and Rainee would start giggling... it was the cutest thing!! In this photo not only is she's wearing her fabulous hat... but she's also wearing her first pair of sunglasses.... and well... she really does look fabulous giggling away... love this photo!!!

Thanks so sharing going down memory lane with me... I hope you have a happy Friday... and a very wonderful weekend!!! Enjoy!! 

Weekly Gratitude...

Blue Ice. Sounds weird I know, but I am. On Friday, when I got out of bed I twisted my back wrong... but I kept going. After taking Rainee to school, I came home and put the heating pad then Blue Ice on my back... I wanted to take care of this right away... I didn't want it to get any worse or ruin the fun plans I had for the weekend. But neither of those helped... it only continued to get worse... and the only comfortable position for me by then was standing... not moving.... just standing. I thought I could push through it... because I have a high pain tolerance.... but when I started crying, Steve knew it was bad. I didn't know what to do... I couldn't sit... I couldn't move... it was awful!!! I called a friend who just got over doing pretty much the same thing to her back, as Steve went to pick Rainee up from school. My friend told me a few things to do... but to make sure I DID NOT to put heat on it... only use ice... well, I blew that one. She told me to just keep ice on it... basically until it goes away. Which is exactly what I did... all weekend!

All the fun things I had planned for Rainee and I... went by the wayside, because I was stuck in a chair. We didn't do any of the fun things I had planned... no pecan picking... no crafts... no scrapping... no baking... it was very disappointing! Rainee helped me whenever I needed to get up... she prayed for me get better... and what was suppose to be our fun weekend was spent watching lots and lots of movies. When Steve wasn't working, he helped out cooking and he took Rainee to the park several times, so she wasn't complete home bound. It was not the weekend I had planned... it was awful.

By Monday I was able to work at Rainee's school. On Tuesday and Wednesday I was much better, just a little stiffness... and today... as I got out of bed, I finally started feeling like myself again. So today, I am grateful for Blue Ice... and my friend's advice. I'm grateful for the rest... for all the love, care and prayers my family gave me... and I'm grateful to be feeling like myself again. I am grateful.

Sweet Blessings...

Well I had a great day!!! I put our Little Tikes Bouncer on Craig's List and sold it 2 hours later!!! Yeah! More money for Christmas!!! I was also able to get caught up on my laundry... go to Walmart get what I needed without a ton of people... went grocery shopping for dinner... plus I had a chance to work on my SketchyThursdays layout... yeah... at least I'm not late... I might still have a chance at those Copic Pens! And now... it's time for homework to get done... then I'll start dinner... I love it when a day goes smoothly... don't you??? It makes me a very happy girl!!! Until tomorrow... have a nice evening!!!
 

What's Your Favorite...

Fall Color or Colors??? This is our new challenge with a twist over at TAAFOMFT... This time we've all made cards... Thank you cards... we'd love for you to join us in sending your thank you card to some scrapping women in need at this time in their lives. There will be no favorite chosen or prize randomly picked... This time it's the gift of giving.

As for my favorite fall color.... my all time favorite color is Red... any shade of red... but the color changes of fall are so beautiful... and although we don't see a lot of it, where I am in California... I still love this season!! I love seeing photos of tree lined streets... or a park filled with falls colorful beauty... For me a favorite of all the those fall beauties, would have to be... orange... it's everywhere I look and every shade... it's delightful! For me, it makes the season so festive....

Come along with us at TheseAreAFewOfMyFavoriteThings and share your favorite Fall Color card... and hop over to see the wonderful inspirational cards from our design team.

One Fine Day....

It is amazing to me how many photos one can take at one time.... like I did at the pumpkin patch.... I've done several layouts and I still have photos I've yet to do something with.... either I take too many photos (which could never happen to a scrapbooker)... or my photography classes are are kicking in and I'm taking a lot better shots!!! Whichever it is... here is another pumpkin patch layout... it really was 'One Fine Day!!'....

What's your weekend plans??? Mine? I'll be working on my December Daily... I just received some of the Christmas stuff I ordered... very exciting!!! Rainee and I baked one of our pumpkins so we can now make our yummy... Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (from this post).... we're planning on going to the nature park to pick pecans... make crafts at Bass Pro, Lowes, and Michaels... see a movie... go to church... I also need to catch up on my blog commenting I've been slacking on them... because I've been soooooo busy... I need to scrap a layout with the sketch from SketchyThursdays... because I want a chance to win those Copic pens.... plus I'd like to do a couple EverydayVideos... I have a couple fun fall things I want to do. It's  bit of a list... and this only what I can remember right now... hopefully everything will happen... I'll let you know... I hope your weekend is filled with delightful things... enjoy!!!

Weekly Gratitude...

As this day begins I want to thank and honor our Veterans who served our country when we have been at war and when we were at peace... it is because of you we continue to be free. Because of your service I am able to live this life of freedom. Without your service, I know my life and the life of my family would be so different. I am grateful for all you have done in making my freedom possible. I am grateful for your heart to serve our country. So for those who have served and those who are serving now... I Thank YOU for watching over us... We are a great country because of you... and we are truly blessed by your service to our country and our freedom. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you dad for serving our country... I miss you!

Pick Of The Patch...

I have so many photos from our time at the pumpkin patch... I know I'll have layouts to do with them for a while. Here is another one for the scrapbook... One of Rainee's favorite things to do when we get to the patch is to ride around in the wagons. She gets in and we take her around the whole pumpkin patch as she looks for the perfect pumpkin. We make several stops during the ride.... each time she sees one that could be 'her pumpkin'  - - she gets out and tries to pick it up... if she can pick it up... it's a possibility... once she done that she checks to make sure it doesn't have anything wrong with it... if it does... she gets back in the wagon and it starts all over....it really is the cutest thing watching her meticulously look over each one of them for the one pumpkin, that will be... her pick of the patch...

I flipped the SketchyThursday sketch for this layout. And may I say... those Copic Pens are fun fun fun.... it was such fun coloring in the maple leaf stamp from Hero Arts... I'm seriously loving those pens I love seeing what they can do!!! 

I hope you have a wonderful week...

Finally Fall...

Well it's finally Friday... and this is my latest layout from our day at the Pumpkin Patch. That day was the perfect Fall day... the sun was out, but it wasn't hot... there was a wonderful breeze, but not cold... the pumpkins were beautiful... and we were together as a family at one of our favorite fall places. This was the perfect Fall day.

I am having such fun with the Twigs from Creative Imaginations... this time I used it as the stem for my sunflower! And that sunflower, it was a doily I found a couple of weeks ago... on it I used my Copic Pens to color it... I love it... and those felt shapes by Fancy Pants finished it off for a fun finally fall layout!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend... enjoy and thanks for stopping by... it's really appreciated!! 

A Very Lovely Birthday...

Yesterday was my Birthday.... and I had a lovely day!

After school, Rainee & Steve gave me a very quick little birthday celebration before Steve had to go to work. They brought out the cards, presents and Cold Stone Cupcakes... so I could make my birthday wishes. Steve has it planned that we'll go to dinner when he's not working.

If you've followed me for any time at all you know Rainee always gets a present when it has to do with my birthday or mother's day.... it's just something we've kept going since she was a baby and didn't understand why she wasn't getting a present too... so now that she understands... the tradition lives on.... her little birthday present was a doggie doctor set.... something she's been wanting since the last one needed to be replaced.

So, once Steve left for work... Rainee and I spent the evening doing homework, watching a movie... enjoying each others company and playing doggie doctor until it was time to go to bed. It was a quite birthday but I know more is coming because a little mouse told me... lol!!!

Anyway... I know this next year will be one full of blessings.... because I am so blessed by the life I've been given.

What's Your Favorite...

Sport??? This is our new challenge over at TAAFOMFT (These are a few of my favorite things)... When I was in high school I really didn't know much about the sport... except to cheer for it. So, when one of the cheerleaders made a huge mistake and got us chanting an Offense cheer.... when clearly, it should have been Defense... one of the teachers (who was a huge football fan) corrected us and sat us down and taught us a few things about the game. You see, growing up in my house, we didn't watch football... and the only reason my parents went went to the games was because I was cheering. I never forgot the lessons learned... and for me... it was the beginning of loving football.

Several years later, my friend Mark's brother was a punter for the Saints... so whenever he would play somewhat locally... we'd get a gang together for a tailgate party to watch him play... We'd have the best time!!!! Now.... I don't always get a chance to sit and watch... because Rainee always wants to play when it's on... so, I go off with her... and Steve's watching the game. Although. I do catch a glimpses here and there.... especially when my favorite teams are playing.

I love football... so, what we'd like to know over at TheseAreAFewOfMyFavoriteThings....  what is your favorite??? Stop by and see what wonderful inspirational layouts the DT have done... We'd love to see what your favorite sport is... And don't forget you don't have to do a scrapbook layout, you can do a card or even a project of your favorite!

Weekly Gratitude...

My Birthday. I love my birthday. I'm not one of those women who has a problem with their birthday or age... it's not just another day to me... it's a part of me... it shares history with me. I don't want to deny it... and yes, with every year I may get older... and sometimes the addition of a year can be hard to swallow... because I don't feel my age. But I don't ignore my day... it's mine... it's the day I was brought into this world... it's a part of who I am.

I like my birthday so much we celebrate it for the whole month... yes the whole month. I celebrate with family and friends... it's wonderful!!! I love to reflect back on the past year on what I've accomplished and the joys I've shared. I am grateful for another year of life... to share with those I love. I am grateful.

Autumn...

I thought before I posted my pumpkin patch photos I'd show you a layout I did with a couple of the photos. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was that Steve took a decent photo of Rainee and I together. This doesn't happen very often.... the good photo... or one together... So you can imagine how happy I was there this time I have a several. Steve did a great job. Yeah!!!

This layout is done with the sketch from SketchyThursdays. I made the pumpkin from the video I did a while back.... but this time I made it with striped pattern paper... kinda fun!!! I also stamped my maple leaf on pattern paper, that had splatters... so I didn't have to splatter anything... and I used my Martha Stewart punches on the corrugated paper from Creative Imaginations... I was so happy I tried it... this stuff is soooo great... I also tried in on my Cricut... with some other punches... plus it's easy to cut... I love the corrugated effect... I think I found my new favorite paper for accents.

That's it for today... have a happy Monday... and enjoy every day of your week!