One Valentines Day...Coming Up!

Even though I haven't posted in a few days, it's been a busy few days. Friday it was 62 degrees, Sunday 45 and today...0 and below!  Yesterday I was outside, with long sleeves, putting up the outdoor lights and today I can barely leave the house without freezing my fingers off. Because of the extreme temps, they've also closed down most of the schools tomorrow. With it only  reaching -3 tomorrow, I have a feeling the districts new plan of having the kids that live 2.5 miles or closer walk to school, isn't sounding safe right about now. 




I think I've been dragging my feet a little with Valentines Day, becuase it's really not one of my favorite holidays. It's not that I don't LOVE, LOVE, it's that the day has become such a demand on men and really, I'd rather my  husband show me he loves me 364 other days of the year, for no good reason. I've always made Valentines  Day, a family day. We usually set a nice table,  have a nice meal and exchange a few gifts. No flowers and no chocolates necessary. 

This year, I have a different plan, but I can't share just yet. Here are a couple photos from years past. 

2010: VD Crab Dinner 

2009: VD at the Mammoth Game

2008: VD Chinese Dinner 

2007: VD Pink Alfredo  (doesn't look the most appealing) & Last VD with my dad.

I am DONE!!!

I can say with all certainty, this has been one long day and I'm ready to pass out in my bed. I've been cleaning on and off for 12 hours now. Once the Christmas stuff started going away, I can honestly say the dirt was screaming and asking to be picked up. Amazing, how you can skim over things when you need to. I haven't had much time to deep clean since before Christmas and it was showing. Dust, dirt and dog hair was everywhere! After cleaning, I packed my last few boxes tonight. Last Sunday, my daughter had collected and piled everything for me on the coffee table and dining room table. I had all intentions of getting to it right away, but as usual other things prevailed.

I'm happy to say, my house is officially Christmas free once my dear hubby takes the boxes to the farm for storage. Hopefully sooner, then later. 

The house is clean, Christmas is packed and my husband and daughter are both gone tomorrow. Do you know what that means???????  Scrapbooking is calling my name. I think I'll spend tomorrow night prepping for the retreat. If I actually manage to get it done, it will be the first time in a year that I've actually worked on my prep and not wait till the night before the retreat. Sounds exciting....now to make it happen! 

Happy Rudy Day!!

I'm trying to make today a productive Rudy Day. It's January 25th and my Christmas decorations are still not all put away. I use to freak out about it and think they had to be down by the 5th, but really who cares? It's not like I have people parading in my house all month long. Once January comes, I love the down time and the ability to enjoy them with no where to go, no one to see and no priority on my To-Do list. I'd planned on listening to some Christmas music, but I found listening to the presidential speech to be more important. However, it's 9:30 and that leaves me about 1/2 hour to listen to some music with a cup of hot cocoa. I already put my Christmas pajamas on last night, so I'll be sure to put on a pair of Christmas socks tonight at bed time!

Saturdays Owl Update

Working with a new pattern helped Ciara out a lot. Here is her first owl of today. As soon as I get done with my chores, I'll be joining in. 

It's now 11:45 and I've finally finished my first mini owl for the Project Valentine. I've been working with the little one all night, helping her prepare her big owl for Monday. Drum roll please......

Olly the Owl Sewing Project

Project Valentine is only one week away and one of the crafts on the list was Olly the Owl. My daughters current obsession is owls, so it was the perfect project to twist her arm with. She's agreed to sew several, but first she wanted to make her own! We never did find the actual pattern on the sign, but we found our own. I showed her how to cut out a pattern, I gave her some instructions on how to sew it and then she was on her own. I had to leave for awhile, so this owl was completed without "mom instructions" and stuffed with little cotton balls..LOL  Her energy was still on go, so she started a second one with a different pattern. She hasn't sewn on the back yet, but she'll do that tomorrow and then start making more to actually donate. In the mean time here are some pictures.  


Meet the official Olly the Owl: 

And Ciara's Olly the Owl #1: 

And Olly the Owl #2 (In Progress): 

This really was just a prelude to her next big art project for school. She's taking a break from photography and going to learn how to use the sewing machine. Here is the owl she's going to be making for class. 

For detailed instructions on Owl 2.0, you can go to Learn and Go


Her sketch book is detailed and ready to go on Monday. 

While I'm at it, her latest piece of hemp jewelry was made with an owl. Personally I think it's her best work yet. I love the colors! I'm trying to convince her into branching out into other mediums of jewelry making, but she just isn't confident yet.

Designed the "Thank You" cards for the Sweet 16 party!

As usual, I just can't sit and watch a movie without using my hands. So I started brainstorming Thank You card ideas and here's what I came up with, using only what I had on hand already. 

First I used this embossing card in my Texturing Boutique. It's a new toy I picked up last year at Michaels, on clearance for $10.00. Not sure why they had it marked down, considering it's still a popular item, but I thought it might add some flair to my cards. 

Then I cut out my bow using the "Sweethearts" Cricut cartridge. The little mini glitter dot, in the center, I received during one of my Christmas exchanges. 

The last step was pretty easy. I had to find one of my Cricut cartridges that had a "Thank You" already linked together. That was a must, becuase I guarantee you, I was not going to make all these cards and glue each and every one of those letters on individually. So thank goodness the Storybook cartridge had the perfect font for what I wanted. 

The cards aren't all completed, but all the pieces are cut and waiting patiently to be pieces together. 

Random Jump to Halloween...GOTH!

Okay, this is one of those days they posted something I can help but share. Good, Bad or Evil...I don't know?? But they are pretty cool and her makeup is amazing! 

One tree down, one more to go!

In honor of getting one of my trees down last night, I would like to share this funny cartoon. All I can say is..Thank goodness I don't have a real tree!

Oh My Goodness...homemade biscuits are to DIE for!

I did it...I finally did it. I went out of my comfort zone and made homemade biscuits. Thanks to my friends at MHH I received a bunch of different recipes. Today I went with Lana's recipe and they turned out on my very first try. They were so good I couldn't help but eat three. One plain, one with jelly and one with honey. I will say, none of the extra stuff was needed. The first one tasted AWESOME. Perfectly light, golden, flaky and whatever else a biscuit is suppose to be. I know, I know...I'm a little to excited over a biscuit, but this is something I've been wanting to do for some time now and I did it. Now, one night when Doug's not home, Ciara and I will have biscuits and gravy for dinner. Can't wait! 

Biscuits

4 cups flour
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 cup solid shortening
1 3/4 cup buttermilk

Sift dry ingredients into large bowl. Add shortening and cut with pastry cutter until it resembles fine crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the buttermilk. Work with a fork, gently stir just until combined.. Turn out onto a sheet of parchment paper lightly floured. Press with hand to about 1" thick. Spread with 2-3 Tablespoons soft butter. Fold the dough over on itself 3~4 times. Press out to 1 to 1 1/2" thick. Cut into biscuits. About 15 biscuits. Place on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Says the key to good biscuits is to stir the ingredients together just until combined and handle dough as little as possible.

Practicing 3D Cricut Projects for Party.....

I found these great napkins for the party tonight at Hobby Lobby. Best of all, they were on clearance for just over a $1.00. 

I also decided to finally play with the 3D projects on my Summer in Paris cartridge. 

I uses some scratch card stock and didn't have glue dots to hold them together properly, but this will give you an idea of what they will look like. Ciara and I are excited to use many of these pieces for her party.

New Book...Twas the Night Before Christmas

I thought I'd share the newest edition to our "The Night Before Christmas" book collection. Ciara and I found this one in the clearance bin at Barnes and Noble. The illustrations are done by Leonard Weisgard. I opened to the first page, seen the Basset Hound and knew I had to have it. Then I went further and realized I love the retro look of the book. Can't wait to sit down next year and enjoy it by tree light with a cup of hot cocoa. 

 

Another Great Christmas Cartoon!!

I thought this was fitting, since we're about half way in between Christmas and the Super Bowl. I think these Pickles comics are growing on me!

Here are some others I pulled during the holidays. Some I find hysterical! 

Not Your Typical Holiday by Ciara..Dedicated To My Lovely Mother

For Christmas, my 15 year old daughter give me a 

beautiful Christmas book,  

 

She wrote me her own Christmas story. It's kind of like a reality/fiction type story, if there is such a thing. In other words, she based the entire story on events that happen in our house year around. Does it make fun of her Holiday Junkie mother or is it a tribute to my love for Christmas. 

I bet, on any given day, she might have a different answer for you. This year, above all others, I think she's truly come to appreciate the work and love that is behind each and every tradition we have in our household. I thought I'd share a small portion with you here tonight....

To my MinnieCo Jr and future holiday junkie...Thank you!!