Cookies For?

I came home from a long, hard day at work (yeah right, I work at a scrapbook store) and what do I find waiting for me? A plate of cookies right in the foyer on the side table. Not just any cookies, mind you, my favorite cookies prepared in the way that I love. Oreos with the middles scraped out. Now I know why the tradition of leaving cookies for Santa has lasted so long. It really made me happy. I would have taken a picture, but they are my favorite cookies lol.



We have been having cold weather here lately and I am loving it. Maybe this year we will get some of the white stuff. I have my fingers crossed. Anywho, I have been making soup and for those that know me, I love, love, love Martha Stewart! I found this simple chowder in her everyday food mag and am adding it to this recipe binder that I created.

Broccoli Chowder with Corn and Bacon

• 4 slices bacon, cut into 1" pieces
• 1 med onion, chopped
• 1/4 c all purpose flour
• 2 cans (14.5 oz ea) reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1 lg baking potatoe, peeled & diced
• 1 head broccoli (about 1 lb) cut into bite sized florets, stalks peeled & thinly sliced
• 1 pkg (10 oz) frozen corn kernels
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 c whole milk
• coarse & ground pepper

1. In a large pot, cook bacon over md-low, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 8-10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Increase heat to medium. Cook onion, stirring, until it begins to soften, 6 to 8 mins.


2. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Add broth and potatoe; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cook until potatoe is tender, about 10 minutes. Add broccoli, corn, thyme and milk; cook until broccoli is crisp-tender, 8-10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with bacon.

*since we don't believe in dieting in this house, I added a little cheese along with the bacon on top.

Shane Declared War

This is all that I heard this weekend. When I asked Q what he wanted to do his reply was "I have to stay home because Shane declared war." His friends came over to help him do his chores so that he could help out with the war. Before he ran off to the front lines, he assured me told me this "don't worry mommy, I won't let anything crazy happen." I love these kids sense of imagination and love of adventure. I hope that he never forgets that anything can happen if you just believe!



A has a job now. We were hoping that she would be able to get through college without working but alas, she has got to eat.

Been working on a lot of projects but not taking the time to post pictures. Maybe next week will be better.

Hope that everyone is having a fantastic day and blog you later!

Good Feeling Gone

Right after the kids went back to school I posted about how Q is so excited to be back in school that he is waking up at 3am. Well that good feeling is officially gone. Not only is it gone but this morning that he stated "I am so tired of having to get up early, when is it going to stop" at about 6:45. At this point he should have been at the bus stop already! It also seems that he gets it from mom. Hot breakfast before school seems to be a thing of the past in our house since I don't care to get up until about 7:30-8. Oh well, at least we had fun while it lasted.

Saving some money

So I tried to save a few dollars, 3 to be exact, and bought one of those reclaimed & refilled cartridges for my printer. Well needless to say, it didn't save me any money and I ended up having to go to OfficeMax to do my printing because I ran out of time. Note to self, don't be a cheap skate and stick to the tried and true when you are on a deadline!

Pencils Lines Sketch

I love, love, love doing sketches! It is my favorite scrapbook tool and one I turn to time and time again when I create my pages. I love that they give you a guideline but that you get to supply the creativity by choosing papers, embellishments, lettering and color pallette. With this sketch, PL partnered with OLW to make the challenge even more fantastic. Really, what scrapbooker can't come up with something using the word KEEP. Try to not find something really cute and/or meaningful, I dare you. Here is my sketch using a photo of my two oldest when they were babies. I keep saying that the girl is 20 now but she is still 19 and the boy is 17. Where did the time go? The Christmas Papers, embellishments and new paper are in the store. I have also gotten in more glimmer mist and the new screens (must see to believe). They are fantastic! Here is the sample of what's new........

Bo-Bunny Beau Jardin (gorgeous, gorgeous paper line)

Bo-Bunny Holiday Cheer

Fancy Pants 8X8 Happy Holidays Slab. How perfect is this for whipping out holiday cards and tags?........

Fancy Pants Happy Holidays Transparency........

Tattered Angels Glimmer Screens. Place them on your paper, spray glimmer mist over it and waalaaa, you have a beautiful image left behind (could you just eat those swirls & snowflakes?)

Some of the layouts that I have finished this week. I have also been practicing my photography! I was very happy with how bright and clear these were.

My daughter hates this photo and I have to admit, I don't know what I was thinking with the hair on the side, it was very Amish.

Awwwwww, he was so darn cute.......

A's elementary school art. She is just as wonky as me!

Join me on the message boards on Sunday, October 26th to do a Christmas Card Swap. Ok, Ok, I know it is early but you can never be too prepared! I will post more of the details later. Have a great day and blog you later.

Lots & Lots of New Stuff

The Online store has been so sorely neglected since I have been on the Convention circuit. But I went in tonight and cleaned house. In fact, I changed so much that the store booted my but outta there before I could restock all the glimmer mist and add the glimmer screens. Oh well I guess I had to have something to do tomorrow! Here is a look at all the goodies that I added today.

Making Memories stamp set (I couldn't resist, it is so freakin cute) -

Fancy Pants - Love their new 3X3 stamps, transparencies and glitter cuts (how cute is that owl)

Clear scraps chipboard step album, love it! Will definitely be keeping one of these for me!!!!

Some holiday gift appropriate word book albums from bo-bunny, these are just 2 of the ones that I added.

Basic Greys Blackboard and Chocolate albums. No, I haven't gone album crazy, it is the holiday season and one of the most popular gifts is mini-albums for like the 3rd year in a row.

KI's new lace paper and holiday sheers - Prima leaves. These are absolutely gorgeous, you have to see them to believe them -

Heidi Swapp Ghost Frames and a ton of her masks -

Glue dot runner memory dots and mini dot dispensors -

And last but certainly not least for tonight, Tim Holtz Masks. The new grungeboard shapes are on backorder but are just fantastic and I can't wait to get them in too -

I have also gotten 2 new paper lines to add, and a slab of 8X8 Christmas Paper from Fancy Pants that would be perfect for your Christmas cards and tag projects! How exciting is that!!!!!

That's all for tonight but I will be sure to update on what's being added tomorrow. Get some rest and blog you later.

Tuesday

I have got to get out of this bad blogging habit. I really miss it when I don't blog everyday. I feel as if I am going to forget something important. This blog really is serving a lot of purposes for me
-communication with my family. Even though I talk to them all regularly, they still read my blog.
-recording the everyday silly things that are so easily forgotten. I try to scrapbook the things that we do daily as well as our large events and big milestones, but some things still fall through the cracks. Blogging keeps it simple and fresh.

-updates on my business. Since my biz is my new baby, this blog is really a record of how it is growing. Last year this time, no one even knew (not even me) about GM but as each day goes by, I get more and more positive feedback, constructive critism and business. Yeah for dreams coming true.

I will be ordering and carrying KaiserCrafts products! I am so excited about this company!!!!! Their products are high quality but affordable. So important in this day and age. Make sure that you drop by the store and check out the new kits that I posted today.

For your favorite furry friend

Latest trip to the zoo

Getting all ready for some tricky halloween fun, pirate style

To celebrate your blissfull love for each other



And last but not least, some projects that I have completed for my family (Love you guys!)


The best gift Q has ever received came from my mom when he was born. 9 years later and he still has it (most of it anyway) and he loves the thing as if it were real. We can't go anywhere without it. I have to take some creative pictures to put on the layout.


My girlies first summer home from college. I think that she was content to be here, I know that it still feels like home to her.

This is from me and C's trip to the mountains. He is such a daredevil. Where was I you ask? I was safe & dry on land!

Q loves games, I found this invitation on my pillow one night when I came home from The Pink House

Street scenes from our trip to NY for the holidays.

And last but not least, my niece when she was a baby