"Haul" pictures

Hello my faithful readers,

I just needed some time off...to think...be grateful for my family...
just get lost in my own head.

(Just so you all know, I am still trying to clean the crafty room!)

BUT, I went shopping and my order from PTI came in so
here are my haul pictures. ( I made a haul video, but do not know
how to get it here on the blog yet) It is a work in progress...

I bought: cardstock and matching ribbons!! Notice the colors! MY FAVES!!
Isn't is funny how we are so
attracted to our favorites.

And I bought some metal dies that I use with my Cuttlebug

And last but not least are the stamps!

Enjoy hump day!

Happy Birthday "Big J"

I can't believe it has been 22 years!
My sugar bear is twenty-two.

Yep, that is what I called him...sorry Justin.
So, to honor "J"
and his special day,
I thought I would show you one of my scrapbooks
about one of his bday parties.


He was a Senior in High School, President of Honor Society,
Captain of the Cross Country and Track Team and turning 18!
Could life be any better at that time??

Here is my album on our Casino Royal party:
First the invitation!

I just want to let everyone know-We
are totally against underage drinking!!
I don't encourage it and I wouldn't accept it either...
We have taught our boys they have choices,
make the wrong choices and you LOSE
your license, your vehicle, playing sports,
freedom, etc...

With that being said-We do encourage gambling!

Let the gambling begin...












All said it was a fantastic time...Justin felt special that day,
surrounded by family and friends who
loved him!

Sorry for the LLLOONNNGGG Post today!

A tragic loss...

I have been away this week because of a death in the family. My cousin committed suicide...we are left with many questions and broken hearts. He was a brother, son, husband, father and grandfather. He will surely be missed!

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday my blogger friends,

I am still cleaning, and sorting, and purging( crafts that is..!)

I feel I am having the after holiday season blues...
Or maybe, the cleaning is sucking out all my creative juices!!

Oops! Forgot the holiday pics!

The serious poker game! No chicks allowed...

The hubby and my youngest..both so handsome!
Don't even ask about the next picture!!
The video is even worse!
GGRRRR!

Cleaning the craft room!!

UGH! I dread the "after the season" craft room clean-up...Nothing is in it's place and each year it is the same thing. I can't seem to put stuff away as I go...must be a quirk of mine!

I have gotten some emails about the new header and divider! Thank you, those ARE my favorite colors too! LOVE red, green and yellow.
Most rooms in my house are those colors.

(Sorry Aunt Patty, you know I just love my colored, cluttered walls!)
I am convinced my BRAIN is also multi-colored with cute collections
filling every corner!!!

Since I am finding long lost goodies that I will never use- up on ETSY they go...
So if you need some cheap supplies....Go there! Or email me!

P.S. Have I mentioned my nickname is "Chatty Kathy"??

Happy New Year!

Is it 2011 already?? Where did this past year go???

I hope everyone had a great holiday season, I know I did...

I am not one to make resolutions BUT I do like to set some goals for myself and my family...

See, goals are something you can work towards on a regular basis.

Resolutions seem to be so black and white-You make them and then break them!

(Goals are more user friendly)

So spice your life up by trying new things, eating at different restaurants,

reading more books, follow more blogs...etc.

New Header!

The new header is finished and installed!!! Or let's just hope it is...

Well, what do you think? I can't even tell you the hours and emails I wrote to accomplish this!

I am way better at creating with actual supplies...not digital ones.

I can digi scrap though...just the computer stuff I am clueless about!

More new bloggy stuff on the way...

Merry Christmas 2010!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and

Happy Festivus for the rest of us!!

We have all opened presents and now we move onto the feats of strength!

(Wasn't Seinfeld great!)

Seriously though, our bellies are full, and the boys are building Lego cities and having Nerf warfare!

And to think I was never going to buy guns for my boys! Ha. That was before I actually had boys and found out they make guns and knives out of everything...

It is so true...Sticks, rocks and even grilled cheese sandwiches. 

Yep, #2 son actually ate his sandwich in the form of a handgun. Quite creative, no? 

Happy times and great memories!! Enjoy the day and hug your loved ones!

P.S. I have been creating so many paper and ribbon roses...I can't stop...

Kathy

Merry Christmas...Almost!

Welcome my blog followers,

I hope you are all snug as a bug! It is quite blistery these days.

That wind goes right to the bone....

Here are some holiday goodies I have been working on...

Most people just LOVE chocolate covered pretzels. They are so easy to make!

I used almond bark (vanilla or chocolate) and the pretzel rods for these yummies.

The secret to almond bark is to cook it very, very slowly, on LOW heat! (You can also microwave it but I haven't tried that for a big batch yet.)

I break it into smaller chunks and start the cooking!

Remember-LOW HEAT!

Next, I added peppermint oil, NOT extract, to the melted almond bark. 

It has to be an oil based flavoring or it won't set up.

The next step is to dip away!

You can dip pretzels, cookies, candy canes, brownie bites,

OR

you can dump the melted goop over popcorn, cereal, smaller pretzels, candy etc...

I often go a little crazy with this stuff! ( I have even made purple and gold covered popcorn for a school bake sale) Purple popcorn??? It sold out!

After you dip, then you decorate!

I sprinkled them with crushed peppermint candies and placed them on wax paper to cool.

This batch was chocolate with creme de menthe bits! YUMMY!

I sprinkle some on the wax paper before I lay the next ones down to get some on the "backside"

All individually packaged for gift giving!

Each brown bag contained 4 different flavors.

Out the door to deliver my goodies...

Thank you Stephanie for the quote!

 The cute heart stamps are from a new set of PTI stamps! 

I may have a new favorite stamp set!

I also have been working on paper and ribbon roses! So easy to make...