Happy Birthday Sarah

Today is "my baby's" birthday...my 32 year old...she'll always be my baby and she is probably saying a few words as she reads this...lov ya, sarah......so i did a layout in honor of her birthday.......

credits: template, papers from one of my favorite designers: timounette

Well, we have to have some kind of pastry for your birthday...i know you love my blueberry cake but do you think i could find the recipe....so until i do i will post these wonderful muffins!

Blueberry Muffins
1 stick of butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
5 teaspoons of Baking Powder (yes)
1 tsp.salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk
3 cups flour
1 box blueberries (washed and floured)..(i use the pint)
Cream butter and sugar. Add the remaining ingredients and than fold in the berries. Pour the batter into the paper muffin tins, filling to the top. Sprinkle 1 tsp. sugar on each muffin.
Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes...cool and enjoy (they are huge!)...may be frozen.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH

A Crazy Week

it has been a busy week...our holidays began last Saturday night and ends tonight (yeaaaaa). The first night was at my dd Rebecca's home...all i had to do was bring the chicken soup..nice that the next generation is taking over...than we put the dogs in the kennel and headed for Vermont for the second night seder with my mother-in-law..great visit!! we stayed a few days and also visited with my family and i continued to gather information on my family history for the heritage album i have begun...went to see my grandparents old homestead and visited my father's grave site...(i think it had been 30 years)...very emotional but much needed!! On return it was 80 degrees out...wasn't it just snowing??...tonight we are headed for a big bowl of PASTA...(food restrictions during this holiday for those who are wondering why i would be so excited about macaroni..lol)...Also, this was the last week of Jessica's class so i spent all day yesterday pulling Assignment 4 off...did it but still have much to do to complete this class...good thing her videos are good forever!! So take a look.....a two-pager....

credits: Wk 4 class materials from Jessica Sprague.com; class sponsors- Katie Pertiet, Anna Aspnes, MaryAnn Wise from DesignerDigitals.com; NancieRoweJanitz , AmandaRockwell from ScrapArtist.com, JenWilson from JenWilsonDesigns.com and designers from Oscraps.com for their MegaKit.....Thank You to all of you!!

As you can see i used a few pictures (one extraction) from previous layouts but i wanted to complete this before the class ended....(i am so sad)...the techniques i learned were just amazing!! I look at everything now so differently since i started these classes way back in June...Thank you Jessica!

Now here are a few wonderful and generous designers' blogs....leave them luv:

http://tempusfug.blogspot.com/

http://digitalanemona.blogspot.com/

http://digidelights.blogspot.com/

http://kimsmithdesigns3.blogspot.com/

WOW

You all know i love to blog hop...well this morning i found another most beautiful blog..actually she has two...one for her digi creations and one for her photographs!! amazing...!! Now this site is in another language (not sure what one) but you don't need to know the language to experience the joy of her creativity!! I left her my graditude and hope she can understand english....check her blogs out and leave her some comments ... she is soooooooooo generous with her works!!

http://kubivet.blogspot.com/

Done!!

I completed the layout for Wk 3 and i need to tell you.....i am exhausted.....i was a little uptight with this one....Excellent class...i can't even begin to tell you what i learned....!! I had difficulty with getting the right picture and i didn't...but went with the best that i had...i need more natural light in my house (near a mirror) and my camera...well, let's say i need a better one...i love this camera but it does lack a few things ..... sooooooooooo many layers in layout!! MsJessica is such a fabulous teacher!! So take a look:

And here are a few blogs from generous designers....don't forget to leave some luv if you download:

http://acmommy28.blogspot.com/

http://angelwingsnthings.blogspot.com/

http://feifeistuff.blogspot.com/

Crock Pot

i love my crock pot!! it has made my life easier! especially when i was working full time with a family to cook for...plug it in in the morning and voila...a meal ready when you get home from work...it can be tricky for sometimes the flavors are not quite there but you can play with the recipes and it works!! also great cookbooks out there...here is a recipe from Mable Hoffman's Crockery Cookery :

Mediterranean Caponata
A variation of a traditional Sicilian recipe that may be served as a salad on lettuce-lined plates, or spread on crackers for an appetizer.

1 large eggplant, peeled and chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed green olives, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
6-8 anchovies finely chopped (optional but what flavor!!)
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
Combine eggplant, onion, tomatoes, capers, celery, olives, garlic, oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 5-6 hours. Stir in anchovies, if using. Refrigerate 2-3 hours or until cool. Sprinkle with pine nuts.....ENJOY

Sisters

Another one...i am barely keeping up...(actually behind with a quote albumn but will get to it....)Tomorrow comes another assignment ... there is not "time limit" except for what i put on myself...this was fun....i changed it a "million"times...need to just learn to "do it" and be happy...

credits: papers,stamp from JenWilsonDesigns_MiraclesfromWithin; birdie4 by jen wilson; font-Amerika

Growing Old Together

So i am doing the next layout for jessica's class and i decided to do this with mike (dh) as the focus...so i went looking for photos...need to tell you this class is not only about learning techniques but i am also reliving my past...what fun!! you need to take the time to sit back and reflect and this is a great way to do this!! anyway...here is my layout:

credits: Papers-AASPN,mterasawa; borderdiecuts,curled jounal,staples,grundgephotoblock,labels-KPertiet; fonts-anarchy,amerika,century gothic

Another one...

Boy..this class is pushing me...another layout today with a Saturday Challenge...needed to take a photo of a meaningful object (using some techniques) and than simple scrap it....well, needless to say i do need to take a photography class and with that maybe an update with the camera...but seeing how i spent $1500 yesterday to "update" the car all of that is on hold for now...(i refuse to get a new car until 2010..so what if this one is 11 years old...hate car payments).....

credits: Paper-MFenwick_AutumBreezes.dotted; Grandma'sPressedFlowers-WeedsandWildflowers; BotanicalFlourish-KPertiet; font-ChopinScript

And here are a few designers that are very generous with their work...give them some luv if you download:

http://sugarshackscraps.com/blog/

http://ronimasil.blogspot.com/

http://lalalime.blogspot.com/

Assignment

WOW...my assignment for class was to take all that i learned (trust me - tons!) and design a layout using those techniques....i just completed this...all day project...but fun and definitely a learning experience....here it is my uncle jerry's 75th birthday party at Legal Sea Foods...YUM!

credits: Papers,staple-MFenwick_ED_Cowboy; OntheEdgeFourishes-KPertiet; Balloons-ColorLineDesigns_HeavenlyScraps_BirthdayBash; font- BleedingCowboy

In Class

that is where i am...i am in class on line...jessica's class DigInDeep started on monday and it is another WOW for her...great teaching style!...this layout has so many new techniques that i am just spinning....i finished and will post here...have to work on another layout so i will be busy...

credits: Tutorial-Jessica Sprague; papers-jenwilson, kpertiet; fonts-oldnewspapers, texas hero; elements-NRJ,MWise, LindaGB,lynng

Before i start the next project i have to go to YouTube and check out the contestants from American Idol's last night's performance...do you believe my tivo did not tape it..don't know what happened but boy this makes me mad...my digi and my reality shows...what can i say...LOL...