A Little Wine, A Little Paella

Today is my hippy happy birthday!! YAY ME!! Hubby and I decided to have a real "date night" which actually started at 12 noon when he picked me up at my doorstep. He swished me away to Miro's Spanish Grille where I enjoyed Seafood Paella, Beef Empanadas, and "full brandy" Sangria.  I am not really sure what makes "full brandy" sangria different from others I have had, but I have to say I LOVED it. We ended the meal with traditional flan and the threat that no one better find out it was my birthday at the restaurant. (lol)

Afterward we headed to the theater on the other side of the parking lot to see a movie. Jack Ryan, Shadow Recruit, based on Tom Clancy novels, was playing and I have really been in the mood for an action adventure flick. We were not disappointed at all. I really enjoyed Chris Pine in the title role. I think he will make a good recurring actor for this character should more be made, following in the footsteps of Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin and Ben Affleck. Even though I must admit I did think of him as James T.  Kirk at least once during the movie.

During the previews of the movie I found myself eyeballing the other patrons entering the movie theater. It was rather cold today and everyone was dressed in heavy coats, gloves, hats, etc. I found myself trying to remember what they looked like and keeping up with who was sitting with whom and where they were sitting. What a sorry predicament. Has it really come to the fact that we have to watch our backs so that we do not get injured by others when we want to relax and have a good time at the theater? I am sure I was just over reacting but I did make sure I left my cell phone in the car, just in case someone called me.

Until next time...

Some New Layouts

Busy Background Paper Challenge
Love those Santas!!

January Recipe Challenge
at Scrap N Chat

Until next time...

Scrapping Christmas and More

I have finally had some time to start scrapping our Christmas festivities. 

I cut up my photo Christmas cards of all the kiddos to create this layout.

A little closer look:
Joseph, Ethan, Sami, Caleb, Connor, and Hannah.

Kaitlyn, Jeremiah, Jordan, Olivia with Gin, Lauren and Alex.

Loving this paper!

Botanical Gardens 2013

I also made another book stack. Love the colors of this one.

I hope it does not get handled to much at work so I can use it afterward.

After another food allergy incident recently, I have been cooking more at home. This was pretty yummy. I made my standard Stuffed Pepper recipe, but I replaced the rice in the filling with fresh chopped mushrooms. Hubby and I are working on a no/low carb plan. I have been trying to adapt my old standby recipes to accommodate. I have to admit I loved this change. The old recipe will now be the new one. 

Well, I need to start thinking about tonight's dinner. 

Until next time...

New Year...New Post...New Background?

I was quite shocked today after a long absence from my blog. My cute shabby background images on my blog have disappeared and all that remains is a plain white background. No header. No more mustardy yellow background. No cute embellies in the corners of the pages. Boo!! Apparently I need to research a new company with freebies for blogger backgrounds. For now I will settle for what I found here  on blogger. No frills. No fancy. But at least no plain stark white nothingness.

On to better and more exciting things. The 2014 new year has come. Resolutions are not one of my things. So once again, just choosing a number of books to read this year (8), a promise to papercraft for myself more often, and to update my blog more.

So I am off to a good start so far. I have been a crafting fool this week. I completed:

two book stacks with hidden drawers,
(only one is photographed so far)

10 things I love gift sample,

5 Valentine Mini Cards

and 10

yes 10 scrapbook layouts.

I realize only 6 are pictured here, but the rest are coming soon. I am learning how to use a new camera and a new version of Photoshop. It's a work in progress. I have also finished an additional card, but I know the person who will be receiving it peeks in here every once and a while. So no peeks for now. 

So for tonight I will be happy with what I have posted here. Off to search the internet for a new background for the blog.

Until next time...