A few new layouts

This is the layout I just finished today. I used Inspired Blueprints sketch 42. It doesn't feel done to me I feel like it still needs something or the owl taken off and changed. So this one is still a work in progress for now. I used October Afternoon paper, Yellow Bicycles Lace cut out as a stencil and my own ink mist to create the numbers.

This layout was taken from Inspired BluePrints Sketch 40. I have wanted to flags on something for awhile, but nothing ever worked. Not that this works, but I love the bright colors.


This layout was a combo of two things. I used a layout in CK mag. Feb.2010 pg.29 and the ruffle idea came from Studio calico's Sunday challenge.


This layout was taked from a Studio Calico Sunday Sketch.

My To Dos this week are pretty easy, I have a few friends coming over on Tuesday to scrapbook with me. I am hoping to get a few layouts done that day.

I just booked the Community Center my friend, Candy lives by and works for for my birthday crop. It will be March 13, ya super excited, I love scrappin with friends on my bday. What a great way to spend the day.

Stop by Sunday Scrappin to see what other ladies have been crafting lately.

Valentine weekend

Thursday night Wyatt and I sat down and made up his Valentines for his party the next day. He did a Cars theme card. The cards had a slit for a Cars pencil that came with them so we also slid in a heart straw for each kid. He loved helping do this. This year he even wrote him name on all the cards himself.On Friday Wyatt was his preschool Valentines party. He had so much fun passing out his gifts, listening to stories and having snacks.
Later that day Derek picked up Ryan and Zach so they could spend the weekend with us.

On Saturday Wyatt and I made cupcakes for the party that night.

I have come to love paper products when the boys are here, just makes it a little easier with dishes since I have no dishwasher. And there is usually some kind of holiday going on so I like to get the plates in theme. Thank goodness for the Dollar store.

And a special Thanks to the Bell family for coming over to our 'Valentine Party' Wyatt was very happy to have a party since he missed the Super bowl party due to being sick. We had pizza, soda and cupcakes. Sunday morning for breakfast for the boys I made heart pancakes., they loved them. Was kind of funny Ryan woke up after I had already started them and I am not sure he was all the way awake, but he looked at the pancakes cooking and he said 'Wow those pancakes turned out like hearts' Um ya I did that on purpose Ryan. 'Oh oops"Here is all the art work from Wyatt on the fridge from these past weeks. Pretty sad I have no pics of the boys from this weekend just of stuff , Oops have to watch that next time.

Wyatt's writing.

I am just so amazed at Wyatt's writing lately. He can write letters I didn't know he knew. Here are his cousins names he wrote all by himself yesterday (I wrote them on another piece of paper for him to see). He wrote Glory and Beka. He needs a little help on the K, but otherwise he is doing an awesome job.

Valentine Decor

I found these great coffee filter flowers on Elizabeth Kartchner's blog (Love her Vday decorations). Elizabeth directs you to Rhonna's site where she has a video showing you how to make these great little flowers.
I knew I couldn't just make the flowers I wanted them to hang more so I added ribbon and cut out hearts. I am loving them right now, Wyatt does too. He just loves to decorate and always wants stuff up for the holidays not matter what holiday it is.
I will say they weren't as easy has her video show though, at least not for me. She says you only need 6 filters for each side, but mine just didn't look right. After several tries I found eight worked best, 6 around the sides and 2 in middle.
If you make some up I would love to see what you do with them.

Thanks for stopping by.

Menu Plan Monday

So I made a really long menu list last week, it just has been nice to have a few extra choice to choose from. So whatever is left will now be added to this weeks menu.

-Rosemary chicken with white beans

-Meatloaf, homemade mac n cheese, brocolli

-Steak and twice baked yams

-Chili cheese fries or Chili dogs( I have chili in freezer so not sure what we will do with it)

-Sausage and white bean Cassoulet

-Fri night on there own I will be on the road picking up my boys

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Scrappin Sunday

So I wasn't able to get the layout I wanted to done by today.
You can see my desk in the post below with the start of the layout on it. Might try to do it today, but Wyatt is sick and won't let me off the bed. He wants 'to be with me' as he says. Hubby will be at a Super Bowl party so maybe if Wyatt falls asleep I can work on it.

It is hard though, you ever have one of those layouts you just aren't quit sure what you are going to do. So it sits on your desk for like a week and everytime you walk by it you work on it or just stare at it. And it sits there until what you want just hits you, 'Ahh ha that is what I want to do.' well I think this is one of those layouts.
I did get one layout done this week though, Brothers.

My To Dos this week will just to get the Thomas the Train layout done. That is my goal. Oooh and to convince myself that I do want to take the extra 2-3 hours and hit Lasting Memories srapbook store on my way to pick my boys up on Friday.

Don't forget to stop on by Sunday Scrapinn (click button above).

Company Girl Friday- Getting back into the swing of it

I think I might be back in the groove of scrapbooking, YEA! I figured out that at the scrapbooking retreat last weekend I did more layouts (see here) then I did all in the year of 2009. Wow not bad. I don't like scrappin to much at home alone, but yesterday I did this one of the boys.

I have one all set up to work on this weekend of when we surprised Wyatt this summer with riding Thomas the Train. I am not sure why it is so hard to do this alone, but I am really working on getting caught up and that might mean doing some layouts home alone. I really do think it is more fun with friends though.
On today list of TO Dos- Wyatt to preschool, Best Buy to exchange new printer and pick up Colton (my 15 yo).

Thanks for stopping by and have a look around. And don't forget to visit the Company Girls.

Here is what I made for dinner last might, it was so good, hubby ate 4 sandwiches (he does eat alot though and I forgot to give him lunch for work too, opps).

Steak Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1 pound beef sirloin, cut into thin 2 inch strips
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, julienned
• 3 ounces Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
• 4 hoagie rolls, split lengthwise

Directions

1. Place the beef in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, marjoram and basil. Sprinkle over beef.
2. Heat half of the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute beef to desired doneness, and remove from pan. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, and saute the onion and green pepper.
3. Preheat oven on broiler setting.
4. Divide the meat between the bottoms of 4 rolls, layer with onion and green pepper, then top with sliced cheese. Place on cookie sheet, and broil until cheese is melted. Cover with tops of rolls, and serve.

Brothers Layout

I didn't have white Maya mist or ink spray so I mixed white paint and water to make it a little thinner and used a brush to splash on the page. I stitched the star with embroidery floss. Card stock: Bazill, Letters: Thickers

I did this layout in all red to do this weeks Studio Calico challenge.

Tonight's dinner

I made this recipe tonght and it was so so good. I followed some of the reviews and changed it up a little. Here is the original recipe and below is what I did.

Steak Sauerbraten

1 1/2 pounds top round steak, trimmed and sliced thin
1 (.75 ounce) packet dry brown gravy mix
2 cups water
1 tablespoon onion powder
3 tablespoon brown sugar
4-6 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (I didn't have ginger so I didn't add it but it would have been good)
2 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste

Place steak in crockpot. Mix all ingredients in bowl and then put over the steak and cook on low for 8-10 hours till meat starts to fall apart. I then took teh gravy (it is kind of thin) and put in pot and brought to a boil. I then mixed water and flour and whisked into the gravy to thicken.

Menu Plan

Menu Plan Monday Tuesday

So I should have done this Sunday, but just didn't have time. then I should have done this yesterday, but didn't, I put it off till now. Luckily last night I had everything in my cupboard to make chicken spaghetti. So here is the menu for the rest of the week.

Steak Sandwiches

Rosemary Chicken with white beans (didn't get to last week)

Meatloaf, homemade Mac n Cheese, broccoli

Pancakes & sausage, hashbrowns?

Steak, yams

Chicken salad

Cincinati Chilli

Sausage and white bean Cassoulet

Fri- Wing night

Sat-Homemade pizza (dough)

So this will actually take me through till the end of next week, but I kept thinking of stuff to make. Will also make my shopping trip once for the two weeks so that will be nice.

What's on your list today

I haven't posted a to do list in awhile thought today was as good as any and it might help keep me motivated if it is on here where all can see.

So I have lots to catch up on today. Being gone from Thursday to Sunday doesn't seem like lon,g but kind of is like a week in household cleaning time. Had to vacuum the floors good yesterday since I missed Thursday's vacuuming, dog hair all over in the corners. Things you do regularly don't seem like a big deal to you miss it.

Here is my to dos today-

Dishes
Meal plan for rest of week
grocery list
shopping?
swiffer floors
clean laundry room
Change sheets on bed
laundry-sheets, blankets (this is my tuesday laundry)
Put laundry away
Put layouts in album in correct order
checkbook
Dinner-in crockpot
remove tags*


So I guess it is time to get out of this bed and get started. What is on your list today?

Thanks for stopping by.

*this is the Small things task from Home Sanctuary today, have fun doing this I am completing things you just don't think of like removing tags form things around your home, matching socks, putting all shoes away in there correct spots. You should check it out.

Retreat Layouts

So here are the layouts I did at the Retreat. I got 20 done, but these are not all of them some of them were just photos in a picture sleeve so it was nothing big so I left those out. We had such a great time, can't wait for next year or in March when we all get together again (for my birthday).
I don't know were most of the paper came from cause I was actually trying to be good and use up what I had. I did not buy anything new except cardstcok.


I think this is one of my favs. I used October Afternoon product and I used a Close to my heart
photo sleeve. It will attach to the outside of the page protector. So awesome (thanks Victoria).

I used a Studio Calico Kit on this one.

I stitched the title on this one.

Another Studio Calico kit.

I used the one of studio Calico kits for this. I have 3 of then that I was trying to use up.
I used some October afternoon on this one.

These two our from the pics I took daily in December.

I stitched the title on this one.