july, in review.

seriously. where did july go? i'm happy to report we did NOT spend the entire month in pajamas (not that there's anything wrong with that...), but spent a lot of time together as a family -- much needed!

we had a wonderful week, just the four of us, here. we saw spinner dolphins and went hiking in the rain forest and spent countless hours lounging by the pool. it was just what we needed after what has been a difficult spring.

we returned home excited for a wonderful week of vbs camp, followed by a visit from mike's parents. we took them to the zoo, a mariners v. red sox game and headed to the beach. in all, it was a july to remember.

happy monday. happy august!

come on over.

... to write. click. scrapbook., that is. i'll be blog-hosting all week, monday through friday, on the topic of birthdays. hope to see you there.

happy monday!

101+ creative ways to use your scrapbook supplies (and a giveaway)!

want a peek at the newest special issue put out by creating keepsakes magazine?

if you have ever wondered what else you can do with your scrapbook supplies,
then this special issue is for you. the follow up to our successful 101
things to do with your scrapbook supplies, this issue features inspiring
ideas from creating keepsakes columnist jennifer mcguire and a team of talented
scrapbookers. they will show you how to go beyond the basics to use your
supplies in new ways to create unique page accents, backgrounds and more. with
budget-saving tips, easy techniques, ideas for leftovers and more, the useful
ideas in this issue will help you stretch your dollars and make the most of your
supplies.

here's one of the techniques i share in this issue:

want to see more? believe me, i'm still working my way cover to cover! this issue is loaded with ideas i simply cannot wait to try!

i've got good news. it's available now for purchase, here. and if you spend $25 or more, you can use this coupon code (FS101B) to receive free shipping on your order through the end of the year!

even better news. i'm giving away one copy this friday. here's what you need to do to enter. simply leave a comment telling me why this issue should be yours. all comments need to be posted by friday evening, 6:00 PM PST. i'll draw a winner at random to receive a copy of 101+ creative ways to use your scrapbook supplies sent to your home free of charge. sound good? :)

happy tuesday!

sharing.

how can we see and not respond?
(you'll need to pause the playlist on the bottom right before playing the video.)



happy sunday.

happy nsd/wcs-launch/satur-DAY!

how's that for a loaded title? just a little reminder...

1) club ck is hosting tons of nsd activities today. you can read more about them in yesterday's post.

2) write. click. scrapbook. just launched their may gallery. one of my favorites this year! this month we all lifted a layout from the wcs flickr gallery. here's mine -- a lift of this fun page!


3) and did you know write. click. scrapbook. has some nsd festivities going on as well? i've been told there will be journaling prompts, photography prompts and scrapbooking prompts throughout the day, so check it out!

4) i'm in the final stretch of getting things ready for mike's birthday party. the mushrooms have been stuffed, the grocery store has been visited (4 times this week!) and now i'm cleaning. fun, huh?

5) since i'm not scrapbooking today, would you be so kind as to leave a comment telling me if you ARE or NOT? and, if you are, what you're working on? i'd love to live vicariously... ;)

happy saturday!

flash mob friday. just barely.

did anyone watch jamie oliver's food revolution tonight? i missed it. we were watching princess diaries. there's a sleepover going on tonight, and while no one is sleeping (yet), i'm holding out hope!

last week on food revolution, jamie and a group of talented students from marshall created this flash mob:



cool, huh?
sometime last year i witnessed my first flash mob via you tube, like many of you. this was all over the internet -- so amazing!



and then today, a friend posted this cool flash mob video -- i just love glee!



of course there are others. and there always seem to be cameras around when they happen.

for your entertainment:
supermarket flash mob
michael jackson flash mob
t-mobile flash mob

happy friday!

remembering.

(journaling reads: this little girl would go on to do great things. she would graduate at the top of her class. she would work in the white house under president johnson. she would be a loyal friend, wife and mother. and among her greatest achievements... she would be your nana.)

my mom passed away just a few short weeks ago, at the end of may. while it's been so very difficult losing her. Drug detox.. i am thankful for the many, many memories.

the other day, while my brother and i were cleaning out her things, we found a signed piece of artwork -- an illustration of the white house. synthetic urine best detox kit... it was signed by lbj and lady bird johnson. i don't know why mom never displayed it more prominently. :) we're still sorting through her things, remembering along the way...

happy monday.

a gift for you.

i love easter! it's my favorite holiday. christmas is a close second, though jesus' birth would be meaningless without the miraculous events that took place on easter.

like many of you, we come home from church on easter morning and continue the celebration with a hearty brunch that leaves us full to the brim with yummy foods of all kinds. there are egg casseroles like this one (believe me, folks! it's worth signing up for the free trial!), cinnamon rolls like these, and fresh fruit. this year we will be visiting my mom for easter brunch, and i'm planning on taking this to share with the fun gal who (wo)man's the front desk where my mom lives.

my recipe for granola:

6 c. oats
1 c. seeds or nuts (i use a combination of chopped walnuts and raw sunflower seeds)
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 wheat germ
1/3 c. canola oil
1/3 c. maple syrup
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. shredded coconut

combine all ingredients in a large bowl and bake on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees for 1 hour. be sure to stir occasionally to prevent browning. when cool, add 1 c. dried fruit (cranberries or dried apples are yummy!).

store in an air tight container for 2 weeks, or freeze.

the tag i used can be downloaded here. initially, i created it to attach to a couple of easter baskets, but i think they look cute attached to the granola jar. ;)

wishing you and your family a very happy easter.

lunchtime!

when my kids were in preschool, i'd send them cute little notes in their lunch boxes. they were usually nothing more than a few words on a post-it, but they loved them and looked forward to the little lunch-box surprise each day.

since my kids began elementary school, i've let that tradition fade. i don't know why.

the other day my littlest found a joke book at the library. we read one joke after the next -- each one ending in a sea of giggles.

this got me thinking...

and i sat down at my computer and whipped up these sweet little things --
my daughter loves jokes even more than my son, so i'm sure they'll be a huge hit when she finds one in her lunch tomorrow. :)

in case you'd like a copy, download a sheet of 6 lunch jokes here. all you need to do it download the set of lunch jokes and save them to your computer and print. if you like, you can add a stamp, hand-drawn smiley or a sticker of your choice. i added a heart stamp on each of the ones you see above.

and if you're looking for more lunch-box note printables, help yourself to these, too. you can download them here. print on white cardstock and trim. :)

check out the ones stacy julian just gave away on her blog -- so cute!

and look at this. even lunchables is getting in on the lunch-note action.

lunch notes are everywhere!

enjoy. and happy tuesday!

four on friday.

1) our shingles are being painted today. i don't know why this makes me so happy, but it does. i'll post pictures once it's complete.

2) i scrapbooked. my desk was too messy to warrant getting out any new supplies, though i did get a really fabulous box of goodies from little yellow bicycle yesterday. in my laziness, i did a digital page, which really took more mental energy than paper-scrapbooking would have. it's not my first 100% digital page, but it's my first in a long while. this could be the start of something...

(supplies: dot and brown paper, journaling snippets: crystal wilkerson; stitching: katie pertiet; frame: paislee press; stamped letters: ikari; font: splendid 66)

3) yesterday, over breakfast, anna was telling us all about how jaguars. did you know:

• jaguars are a feline, but they sometimes eat wild dogs?
• they'll hunt animals up to 160 pounds!

4) did you see that beth is blog-hosting over at write. click. scrapbook. this week? i love beth. and i love her blog. last week beth posted about her daughter's first ever muffin-tin lunch. genius! here's our own version of beth's muffin-tin lunch:

(pears, annie's bunny crackers, cheese, & plain yogurt + homemade granola parfaits)

happy friday!

unfinished projects and a little giveaway.

guilty.

i have more than a few projects that i started over break, but have yet to finish. here's the evidence:

in other random news:

... my daughter came home with a field trip form and a notice that we need to send in a check for $24. don't get me wrong, it's a COOL field trip, but doesn't that seem a little pricey?

... i made dinner last night in under 30 min. we had this, and this, and a spinach salad with this dressing. 30 minutes, people! that's a record for me!

... in addition to all the many, many unfinished projects listed above, i'm cleaning out my office, getting rid of some scrapbooking items i've yet to use and making room for some new stuff. leave me a comment by 8 pm pst telling me something you still need to finish (misery loves company, after all), and i'll draw a name to receive some fun mail. :)

... and in case you haven't popped over to write.click.scrapbook. yet this week, you're in for a real treat! jody's our hostess-with-the-mostest and you won't want to miss a single post!

happy tuesday!

four on friday.

i'm pretty certain no one does four on friday, but since i'm "new" to the blogging world, i'm going to do it anyway and claim ignorance.



1) this tea. it's my (almost) nightly ritual. no caffeine and so soothing. goes especially well with #2.



2) this show. i know it's nearly over. so very sad about that. goes especially well with #1.



3) these shoes. i don't need another pair of sneakers. but whoa, these are cute! and purple! they make me want to run. and in case you want to be a runner like i want to (someday) be a runner, check out this "couch to 5k plan." and yes, i'm sitting on the couch as i type this. :)

4) and a notice. i'm blog-hosting over at write.click.scrapbook. next week starting on monday. stop by. i promise to post about something useful.

happy friday!

and the winner is...

KathyT! :)
congrats to you, dear! email your address and full name to me at mrsclaus09 at gmail dot com to receive your copy of 101+ creative ways to use your scrapbook supplies. it will come directly from creating keepsakes magazine.

sorry to keep you all waiting over the weekend. thanks for checking back!

woo hoo! and happy monday!

finished.

1. my cute knitted washcloth from this book.
2/3. this darling table runner.
4. and then i started this super-cute raw-edged circle quilt.

happy monday.