Summer Fun!

I can't believe June is only a couple days away! Half of the year is almost over... And come the week of July 19th my maternity leave is over and it's back to work for me. :(

In other news...The new Stampin' Up! 2009-2010 catalog comes out on July 1st! Such an exciting time. I'm used to receiving 2 catalogs a year! How can I live off of one? Should be easy though... I have a TON of items on my wishlist that I would LOVE to check off.

I'm starting to think about being a serious SU! Demonstrator. It makes me nervous to think about and I don't even know if I'll have enough time to do it - 2 kids, running a household, full time RN job but I'd like to try.

So if you're local and would like to hostess an SU! workshop and wouldn't mind a newbie demonstrator - EMAIL ME! :)

Or, if you would like to reserve the new catalog that's coming out on July 1st, let me know. I'll keep a list and as soon as the catalogs are in my hands, they'll be out in the mail to you! Each catalog is $10. I'll pay for shipping. :)

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Dates: June 1-30, 2009

Promotion Details:

• Customers who either host a workshop or place an on-line product order from $250-$399.99 will receive an additional $20 in hostess free merchandise dollars.
• Customers who either host a workshopp or place an on-line product order of $400 or more will receive an additional $40 in hostess free merchandise dollars.

With the release on June 1 of Stampin' Up!'s Last Chance Stamps and Accessories (formerly referred to as "retired"), you can stock up on your favorites and earn additional hostess free merchandise with the Summer Fun Promotion.

Stampin' Up! May update

Well, like I've said before, I'm mostly a hobby demonstrator, but I thought I'd pass along the latest deals Stampin' Up! has to offer this month!

Scrapbooking Promotion!

1. Buy any 3 packs of Designer Series Paper (including Specialty Designer Series Paper) or 12x12 textured cardstock, and get one pack free!

2. Buy a sneak peek stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog--Jumble Alphabet (set of 52; double-mounted)--at a 20 percent discount. See a sneak of what the alphabet looks like HERE.

There are so many great deals (I'm especially excited about the paper!) that I have to pace myself in ordering what I want! *lol* So bad for the wallet, but SO nice for the STASH! *lol*

AND, in celebration of National Scrapbooking month, SU! is offering an awesome deal to become a demonstrator for only $75 with the limited time scrapbooking starter kit that includes:

Item Code	Description	Retail Value
113510	Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set*	$42.95
113059	Simply Scrappin' Petal Party	$19.95
108697	Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12")	$11.95
105240	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad	$7.50

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $43.95 value.

Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items. Please see the Scrapbooking Starter Kit Order Form for details.The Scrapbooking Starter Kit also contains all the business supplies contained in the standard Starter Kit:

• Getting Started DVD
• Getting Started Guide
• Guest Invitation Postcard (100)
• Idea Book & Catalog (8)
• Occasions Mini Catalog (8)
• To My Hostess Envelope (10)
• Recruit Folders (5)
• Recruit Brochures (20)
• Hostess Brochure (20)
• Hostess Benefits Form (10)
• Customer Order Form (50)

Awesome deal if you ask me!

To place an order online, go to my Stampin' Up! website HERE. :)

recipe: flourles Peanut Butter Cookies

Yes, please. :)

I got this recipe from a couple of places. I guess the foodie/baking/cooking & blogging community is intertwined somehow. I have 2 blogs saved in my Google Reader and this recipe was posted within days of each other.

Understandable, really. It's really good. So I'm sharing it here...

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
(from Joy the Baker and Honey and Jam)

1 cup all-natural chunky or smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with butter and set aside. In a mixer combine peanut butter and sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and baking soda and mix for another 2 minutes. Roll into walnut sized balls and create a cris-cross pattern with a fork. If you’d like, add a few chocolate pieces to the top of the cookies. Bake for 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a baking sheet for two minutes, then transfer to… your mouth.

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This recipe is SO GOOD it's DANGEROUS. I've already made 2 batches since discovering the recipe a few weeks ago. And each time I've had to give half of the batch away because I had consumed the other half in a matter of hours.

And just a warning though: since there's no flour, the cookies are pretty delicate. And I used old-fashioned PB - it works just fine. There's already a ton of sugar in it anyway!

Enjoy! :)

feeling crafty.

Now that my mojo is back, it's hard to use it now that I barely have any "me" time. Between chasing a toddler and tending to a newborn, when I do have some free time, all I want to do is SLEEP! *lol*

Over the past few weeks though, I managed to bust out a few cards here and there - an easy way to utilize inspiration and feel productive. :)

I made a couple of cards for my mom and mother in law for Mother's Day...
(supplies: Candy Lane Designer Series paper, ribbon, All Holidays stamp set, stamping ink, scallop oval punch, scallop border punch: Stampin' Up!)

(supplies: patterned paper: Making Memories, Stampin' Up; All Holidays SU! stamp set; ribbon: SU!; scallop oval punch: SU!)

I made this card for my BFF... :)
(supplies: Stampin' Up! - cardstock: Baja Breeze, patterned paper: Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper, stamps: Great Friend set, ribbon: So Saffron, ink: Blue Bayou (retired), Groovy Guava (retired), Versamark, clear embossing powder)

and another card for my BFF's birthday. I just *heart* her. :)
(supplies: Stampin' Up! - patterned paper (Hand Drawn Designer Series paper), stamps: Big Bold Birthday set, scallop edge punch, wide oval punch, ink: Only Orange, cardstock: Tangerine Tango)

Her birthday happens to be 2 days after her 1 year wedding anniversary. Since I was in her wedding party and since she was so nice enough to remember my 1 year wedding anniversary 4 years ago with a present, I thought I would do the same. I made her a wedding slideshow using her engagement and wedding pictures and burned it onto DVD. And then I made this little envelope.
(supplies: Stampin' Up! - patterned paper (Candy Lane Designer Series Paper), ribbon: Rose Red, scallop oval punch, ink: Rose Red, Close to Cocoa; stamps: Congrats set)

So, even though I haven't been creating scrapbook layouts like I would like, I've been keeping myself plenty busy creatively. :) It's a nice feeling.

Happy Saturday. :)

Happy Belated Mother's Day...

Sorry this post is coming so late. It was a long weekend for us... We spent Sunday at my family's house and we spent a low key Mother's Day with them and my in-laws.

And my husband, who is notorious for dropping the ball on holidays and special occasions and gift giving, gave me an awesome Mother's Day-Belated Valentine's Day-push present wrapped up in one:

His name is Louis and I'm in LOVE. *lol*

It's too expensive and extravagant and I told him that... But he knew I had been eyeing it for a LONG time so he got it for me anyway. Major points scored there!

It's my 3rd Mother's Day and I've loved every celebrating every single one. I'm reminded of how lucky I am to be a mother to 2 awesome kids. Yes, I'm tired all the time. I get impatient. I get frustrated. And I no longer have the "me" time that I SO need to just breathe... But I wouldn't change it for the world.

My BFF sent me this forward and I thought I'd post it here. It's so appropriate.

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom ...

I hope all of you out there had a beautiful Mother's Day weekend... Whether you're a mom, a step-mom, a fur-mom, a godmom - you all are special and should be celebrated. Thank you for all that you do for everyone around you! :)

recipe: One-Pan Chicken and Potato Bake

4 bone-in chicken pieces (1 1/2lb)
4 large potatoes, cut into wedges
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400F. Place chicken and potatoes in 13x9-inch baking dish.

Pour dressing over chicken and potatoes, sprinkle with cheese.

Bake 1 hour or until chicken is cooked through (180F). Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Makes 4 servings.

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I found this recipe in one of my old Kraft Food and Family magazines (I'm such a pack rat!). It looked really good in the picture... But when I made it, it was just ok.

I only used 3 potatoes (do you see how big those suckers were?) and I just used whatever chicken I had. The dish itself was tasty, but it was missing something. Hmmm...

I do have to give it props though... Super easy to make and it required just a little bit of time. If I ever made it again, though, I'd probably tweak it somehow.

Happy Friday!

5 weeks old.

Time is FLYING. I can't believe that Malia is already 5 weeks old!

We celebrated her first Cinco de Mayo yesterday here at home. Low key and didn't do much, but it was such a nice day to be chilling at home. :) I'm learning how to use our Nikon and shoot in MANUAL mode. Kind of daunting, but thankfully, my DH has really been into photography (his knowledge about photography surpasses mine) and he gave me a quick-bare-bones lesson on how to shoot in manual.

Here are a couple pics I took with our Nikon D200, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 in manual mode (and I didn't do any post processing).

It's been really really fun learning something new. I don't expect to be an awesome photographer like Caroline, Maria Grace, Ali, Tara, or Kelly, but I just want to step my game up a little bit.

And since I can't find any ME time to do anything crafty, I've rediscovered my love for cooking and baking again. I tried doing a cooking/baking blog and that didn't work, so I'll incorporate my food here in this blog (wish I started a while ago - I have been cooking up a storm!)

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EASY CHICKEN & CHEESE ENCHILADAS

1 can (10 3/4 oz) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup Pace Picante Sauce

2 tsp chili powder

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

6 flour tortillas (6"), warmed

1 small tomato, chopped

1 green onion, sliced

1. Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl

2. Stir 1 cup picante sauce mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl

3. Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place them seamside up in an 11x8" shallow baking dish. Pour the remaining picante sauce mixture over the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish.

4. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top with the tomato and onion

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They didn't come out like the picture in my magazine showed, but they were still pretty good! And they were super easy, so I'll be making these again! :)

Have a great week!