Happy Valentine's Day to All!!

Additional Project for Today

Over on Challenge Masters there is an altered project to do that I thought looked fun. DD wanted a special something this Valentine's Day for her BF. I put them together and here's what I came up with:

And to think, it started off as an insert from a cardboard box. There are other challenges going on on Challenge Masters. Head on over and check them out.

Until next time...

A page about me

I work on many separate scrapbooks. There are three that are chronological covering the past three years. There is a special mini album I am working on that is a gift for a friend. And then there is the Book Of Me. Today my entry is for the latter. In my book there is a page of my favorites from last summer. Today I add a page of not my favorites entitled BLAH! (LOL!!)

For my family and friends you will note that I added that green creature, but could not bear to have him totally up front. It gives me the creeps just looking at it!!

Until next time...

Football... the day after

I am not a big fan of pro football. I do watch the Superbowl for the hubbub and the advertisements. But I do enjoy a good college game. My favorite team has always been LSU for many reasons no matter whether they are having a good season or not. I yell and scream at the coach and/or the quarterback through the tv, armchair coaching their decisions, but I am still loyal to the brand. I spotted a challenge on Hambo Stamps this week and decided to give it a try. Geaux Tigers!!!

Football Girl w/Bear 

Digital Football Paper, Bow, Sentiment 

Until next time...

Anything goes....

Recently I had a friend come over and we spent the day creating for our families for Valentine's Day. And while I was busy doing that, I also put together some cards to donate to OWH. Here are some I am using for a couple of challenges for websites this week.

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes + Flowers

Little Claire's Designs: Anything goes!

And yes, yes, I realize the following cards are Christmas cards, but they are red and that makes them fit into some of the other challenge categories. I am using them so that the ones I made for my family for Valentine's Day will remain a surprise to them. And since my family get links to this website .... no peeking Mike and Coley!!

Moving Along With The Times: Red

Do You Stack Up: Red Hot

And here's another Christmas card, just for good measure. I ran out of time to make cards this past year, but I have resolved to make them throughout the year, so I don't get too far behind again. This will be number one and two for Christmas 2011.

Until next time...

I gotta get me one of those!!

Have you tried Xbox Kinect yet?

I was fortunate enough today to have my DD's boyfriend over with his. What fun!!!
Hey Honey, Can I get one of those?
LOL!!

I gotta get me one of those!!

Until next time....

A blog post from my other blog and a recipe to share

Good Golly Miss Molly!!

Sharing a recipe for delicious Chicken Cordon Blue that is low carb, low calories, simple to make and DE-LI-OUS!! Enjoy.

Ingredients

chicken breast (about 51/2-61/2oz), cut butterfly style
3 slices ham, extra lean lunchmeat
1 slice swiss cheese


Nutritional Info

	Fat: 9.6g Carbohydrates: 1.0g Calories:310.8 Protein: 51.8g

Preheat oven to 400*.
After chicken has been cut, place ham and cheese in the center of chicken and wrap the chicken around it.
Bake for 30 minutes or until chicken is done.

Makes 1 serving.

Number of Servings: 1

Until next time...

Feeling quite accomplished today

I decided to try my hand at some Challenge Master projects today. Here are the results:

I made a fabric flower. I haven't found a place to use it yet, so it's just going to sit around and wait for the perfect spot.

A "New" Tag challenge. I love to make tags. The are quick and satisfying.

Challenge Masters also had an Ad/Art challenge that looked promising. I have been wanting to play with my Photoshop program and do some digital layouts. This challenge was just right for what I wanted to do. Everyday I track my progress on improving my lifestyle on Sparkpeople. This list of affirmations are the things I need to concentrate on to help me on my way. I have this layout hanging next to my desk to remind myself that I need to focus on me more often and help myself along the way. I felt quite accomplished today moving digital elements around, in and out of Photoshop as I worked. I am very happy with the results.

For more information on Challenge Masters or Sparkpeople, click on the icons listed to the right.

Until next time...

Determination...that's what it takes..that's what i have!!!

I found this on Sparkpeople.com today. It touched me and perked me up a bit. Hope it does the same for you.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE:

-One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you've come.

-A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

-Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

-A youth you're content to move beyond.

-A past juicy enough that you're looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE:

-One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you've come.

-A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

-Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

-A youth you're content to move beyond.

-A past juicy enough that you're looking forward to retelling it in your old age.

-The realization that you are actually going to have an old age - and some money set aside to help fund it.

-An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account - all of which nobody has access to but you.

-One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.

- A dog...because dogs are in a category all by itself...a very important category :)

-A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.

-Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

-The belief that you deserve it.


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW:

-How to fall in love without losing yourself.

-How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.

-When to try harder and when to walk away.

-The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.

-How to live alone, even if you don't like to.

-That you can't change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.

-That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over.

-What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.

-That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.

-Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.

-Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault."

A new year......................already!!

I have been so busy working this holiday season that this blog just seemed to get pushed back and back and BACK. But now the dust is brushed off. I am happy to be creating again. I have some new ideas and plenty to celebrate. Stay tuned, I am creating as we speak.......................................

Ok, ok. It's hours later. I had to make dinner, plan a family trip with my husband, and get my daily exercise in. But I did complete a lovely card today. I have a birthday coming next week. So I made a card I would like to receive myself. And I have the perfect person to mail this card. I love the colors and I hope she does too.

Up early this morning

My insomnia has been getting the better of me lately, but I was finally able to get some sleep last night. The problem is that I was so exhausted that I went to bed before 8 p.m. and was back up for the day before 5 a.m. Needless to say I have had time to catch up on making cards for Operation Write Home as well as some other challenges.

There is a Midweek Throwdown Challenge at OWH: "Our challenge this week is to make Anniversary or Love themed cards for our Hero’s to send home to their loved ones!   You can make them masculine or feminine themed or you can make some of each!"

Challenge Masters Color Challenge: "Use black, orange, white/cream, and 1 additional color on your project this month. And there's 1 more twist you cannot scrap Halloween or Fall layouts with this color combination." 

AIFactory's Embossing Challenge: AIF#51

"Penny's Challenges #40".
A sweet pair of birds thinking about each other

Until next time.....

A Busy Fall Day

Today we had a family day and attended a quilt show. The weather was wonderful. The quilts were fabulous. Now I wish I had a better sewing machine for myself. It was very inspiring.

This greeting made with Smilebox

Moving to a new phase?

How cool is this!! Recently my hubby and I started a weight loss program on Sparkpeople.com. So far things are going great. I lost 7 pounds the first week which is probably the most weight I have ever lost at one time in my LIFE!! I am really excited about the program. The website is easy to use. The suggested foods are made from ingredients that everyone has in their pantries already. We are cutting out refined sugars. We are participating in Meatless Mondays. We are slowly adding regular exercise into our lives.  I am just loving this program!

Another aspect of the program is the wonderful motivational tools they provide for you. There are recipes, articles, polls, trivia contests and health challenges to help you on your way to a better lifestyle. The people I have encountered are all very motivated and excited to be there. There are even virtual goodies that look great, even though they have no taste, LOL!! One of the tools is a personal Sparkpeople page with a blog that we can use for triumphs and tribulations. Today was my first time adding an entry to mine. Low and behold, I am so excited that I can link it to this site!!!

Moving to a new phase?

I have also added a new project to my list of fun things that I will be posting here. I LOVE to make greeting cards, but don't really send many out to folks for one reason or another. I was introduced to Operation Write Home which is an organization that pledges to "support our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." I am so excited to be helping out with this cause. I have many scraps of materials around the house that I have used to make scrapbook layouts and other cards that I probably won't use again for myself. This is a great way to utilize those supplies and help our armed forces overseas to keep in touch with their families at the same time. It also gives me a way to continue to do my favorite hobby without overloading my craft room with stacks and stacks of unused cards!!

For more information on this worthy cause, log onto their website at operationwritehome.org.

Until next time...