melt in your mouth good...

Did I get your attention with that blog post title!?!  ha, ha!  First things first though...

Yes.  It has SERIOUSLY been a month since my last blog post.  WHAT.THE.HECK.HAPPENED!?!  Hmmm...maybe I had a case of burnout.  Had to let the creative stuff go for a bit.  I don't know about the rest of you...but if I am honest with myself, this blog-creating-posting-visiting thing can really eat up any free time I might have...

ANWAY!  I have missed all of my online scrappy buddies...I still visit you ;o) but I don't always leave a comment...sorry about that little detail!

So back to the whole "melt in your mouth good"...

I have had 4 zucchinis laying on my kitchen counter for longer than I want to admit.  I made some zucchini bread that turned out pretty good.  Then, about a week ago, Joel asked me if I could make a chocolate zucchini cake.  Funny you ask kiddo, because I just happened to find a recipe...so, a week later, I finally found some FREE time (see above...) and made THE cake today.  Joel & I had a piece while it was still warm....OMG!!!  It was delish...

Looks good, huh?  You.have.no.idea.

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

2 1/2 c. sifted flour
1/4 c. baking cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 c. cooking oil
1 3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. buttermilk
2 c. grated zucchini
1 (6 oz) pkg chocolate chips

Sift together flour, cocoa, soda, salt & cinnamon.  Cream together butter, oil & sugar in mixing bowl until light & fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Blend in vanilla.  Add dry ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk to creamed mixture.  Beat well.  Stir in zucchini.  Pour batter into a greased 13x9x2 inch pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes (mine took closer to 50 minutes) or until cake tests done.  16 servings.

So that it for today.  No promises on my blogging.  The boys start school on Wednesday - Joel will be a sophomore & Jeremy a SENIOR!  Not possible!  We have his senior photo shoot scheduled with Amanda Johnson (she is going to take some family photos too!!!) and a couple of college visits coming up in September.  This year is going to fly...

As always, thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

a blog & giveaway...worth checking out!

Well, how about another QUICK post from me?  Ha, ha!  There appears to be no end in sight for the rat race of a life I am currently living...boy, I just can't wait for school to get started...with a SENIOR this year, I'm sure time will stand still....

So I recently discovered a new to me blog thru Ali Edwards' blog...she had many guest posts this summer and Miss Monika Wright was one of them...come to find out, Monika recently joined the Write.Click.Scrapbook design team (what a fun website if you haven't already found it!)

ANYWAY...Monika is doing a giveaway on her blog to celebrate one month of blogging...go check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care! 

a quick hello!

This is what I would call a "drive by" post...short, sweet & to the point!

1.  A quick hello to my blog readers!  I miss you all & just don't have ANY extra time lately!

2.  My son, Jeremy, made it home from Colombia!!!  & he has so many wonderful stories!!! & pictures :o)

3.  My latest Scrapjazz article can be found HERE.  I {heart} the Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alphas!  & they have numbers coming out @ CHA!!!

Gotta go!  Thanks for stopping by!  Take care! 

A little of this...a little of that...

Hi all!  Hope your 4th of July was fabulous...& you got a chance to kick back & relax!  Me?  Not so much.  A wedding on Saturday.  A baby shower on Sunday.  Preparing burgers, hotdogs, & beans with our youth group for our city 4th of July celebration.  No rest for the wicked.  THEN I had to work on Monday.  Is it the weekend yet???

A little of this...

My 17 year old son, Jeremy, left on a mission trip to Colombia last Friday - so proud of him!  They made it to their destination safely and enjoyed 2 days @ the beach (only because they arrived during "holiday", so they were FORCED to go to the beach...ha, ha!)  Today was the first day for working in the community and VBS.  If you would like to check out their blog:  http://www.servingfriends.blogspot.com/  Your prayers for a successful mission and safe travels back home would be much appreciated!

a little of that...

I did the July sketch challenge for Scrapjazz...HERE is article!  I have really enjoyed creating a few sketches of my own...this one is 8 1/2 x 11 which I then adapted and created a card...LOVE how it turned out!

As usual, I have lots of things that are calling me away from here...so I will catch you later!

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

my poor, neglected & lonely blog...

Hard to believe that it has been a whole week since posting here...I'd say that means I am busy (or rather WE are busy!)

The boys have finished up harvest - both working for local farmers...really pretty disgusted because I didn't do a very good job of picture taking this year, but here are a few:

Joel - his first summer helping a farmer - so proud of him!  But he really did NOT want mom out there taking photos...can you tell???

Joel - in charge of the grain cart!

Jeremy - caught him headed to town with a load of wheat. This is his 4th summer working on the farm!  Like I've said before...time flies!

Makes me just a teensy bit nervous...

There's just nothing quite like a gorgeous Kansas sunset :o)

What else have we been up to?  Oh yeah...the boys have played in 2 weekend basketball tournaments, so I've enjoyed sitting in super comfy bleachers...NOT!!!  Then last Sunday, we made a trip to Dodge City for some last minute items that Jeremy needed to prepare for his mission trip to Colombia...he leaves in 2 days...keep him & his team in your thoughts & prayers...thank you!!!  While in Dodge City, we treated ourselves to Toy Story 3!  What a great movie...& the 3D is amazing!

Last, but not LEAST!  I recently had another Scrapjazz article publish...a product review of Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety paper crafting kit...here are a few of the projects that I created for the article:

Isn't this line just adorable?  & this card went together super easy & quick!  (Blogger is not being my friend right now...I can't get this photo to center!?!)

I used a simple sky blue colored gift bag, added some Garden Variety & ta-da!  Perfect for something fresh out of your garden as a gift to someone special!

Well, that's it for now!  Gotta go get something scrappy done...I'm putting together a journal for Jeremy to take on his mission trip...an easy place for him to jot down notes, thoughts, emotions...what an amazing opportunity for him...more on that later!

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

oh my, how time flies...

oh my, how time flies...

20 years ago today...

I said "I do"...

to a wonderful man...

what a great husband...

and father...

I love you Kevin!  Happy Anniversary!

Here's a quick photo share...a few of my favorites from our recent trip to Vegas!

Hanging with the Blue Man Group...

Gorgeous flowers, huh!?!  I think this was @ Flamingo...

Having a great time in downtown Vegas...

Enjoying dinner @ Diegos, MGM Grand...

*****************************************************************

So how about something scrappy?  My latest article over at Scrapjazz posted yesterday - I did the June Color Combo challenge and used this photo as the inspiration:

And here's the layout I created...I used photos of my nieces & nephew, taken by their mom, Lynn.  Cute kiddos for sure!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how this layout turned out!!!  It is definitely one of my all time FAVES!  I framed it up & gave it to Lynn...just because :o)

Speaking of Lynn & her family...my brother, Brian (Lynn's hubby) recently deployed with the Army National Guard...please keep him & his family in your thoughts & prayers!

Well, that's it for today...I have a layout to share tomorrow...it's another one I did using a Sketchy Thursdays sketch...LOVE those things!

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

Hurry...go VOTE for your favorite :o)

Hi all!  Made it back from vacation...we spent 4 nights in Las Vegas!!!  We had a blast...it was so nice to get away, but it is ALWAYS so nice to be back home :o)  I hope to share some photos soon...

I just wanted to share some exciting NEWS!!!  My layout "don't blink" has been chosen as a finalist for the Sketchy Thursdays July GDT Sketch challenge!!!  I'm so pumped...WOW...so many amazing entries!  Now it's up to you...go on over to Sketchy Thursdays to VOTE for your favorite...(pick me!!! ha, ha!!!)  You have until Wednesday @ noon, so don't delay!!!

As always...thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

Quick Scrapjazz article...& un-PLUG-ing...

Hi all!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend...don't they just go by too fast!?!

I wanted to share the link to my latest Scrapjazz article :o)  I did a Step By Step article on creating a cute little circle scallop shaped card...go HERE to see the article!

Here's the card....happy hello...

I think it turned out so stinkin' cute!  It is headed with me tomorrow for my mom...she had both knees replaced on Wednesday this week & is still in the hospital...thought this would cheer her up!

I'm going to un-PLUG for several days...so looking forward to it!  I will share all about it in my next post...

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

don't blink...

It is so true what they say..."Don't blink...your kids will grow up in a heartbeat..."

I used to be like, "yeah, right..."

But then guess what happened...yep, you guessed it...time is flying by...my little boys have turned into wonderful young men...they make me so proud :o)

As soon as I saw the July Guest Designer sketch challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays, I knew that the recent photo of my boys would be perfect.

I just did a little flip of the sketch & here's what I came up with:

Something *new for me* that I tried on this layout is the fun doodle line around the edge...I've seen it done by others but had never been brave enough to give it a try...call me a perfectionist, but it's really hard for me to do stuff freehand...I think it turned out pretty good :o)

Also, brand spankin' new product on this layout includes the Jillibean Soup Corrugated Kraft Alpha and the Core'dinations Core Impressions Cosmo Cricket cardstock (thanks to Diana-part of the goodies I won on her blog!)  LOVE that you can sand the Core'dinations cardstock & it reveals the cool pattern...

Here's a close up of the alpha...I inked the edges and then popped a few up with foam adhesive.

I picked up some 7 Gypsies stickers @ Hobby Lobby...I can tell that they are going to become a favorite of mine :o)

Great sayings, huh?!?  LOVE these stickers!!!

Supplies:

8 1/2 x 11 white cardstock (bulk purchase @ Walmart)
Core'dinations Core Impressions Cosmo Cricket
PP-The Paper Studio-Rulers
PP-daisy d's-Classic Blocks (love to use older supplies!!!)
Jillibean Soup-Corrugated Kraft Alphas
Making Memories-tiny alpha-white on black
Versa Magic chalk ink-Midnight Black
Martha Stewart journaling pen
7 Gypsies-Inspire stickers
Date stamp
Sand paper

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

missing these boys...

Just wanted to share this great photo of my kiddos that I took recently...they are @ a team football camp right now & I'm just missing them!  Such great young men...LOVE you guys!  They get home on Thursday & can't wait to see them...

I really want to share something scrappy, but don't have anything ready...I did the June Color Combo for Scrapjazz, so I will be sharing that with you as soon as it posts!  I LOVE the layout I created...so it's been tough keeping it under wraps :o)

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

changes...

Notice anything new around here???  Do you like???  Just thought I'd play a bit with my blog template & this is what I came up with...

Here's to wishing you all a fab-U-lous holiday weekend!  Keep our soldiers in your thoughts & prayers!  I {might} post again this weekend...or I {might} not!  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!  Take care!

random

Hello out there to my blog readers...it's been a while, huh? I have read several blogs recently that indicate I am not alone in this "crazy, busy, hectic" life that we all lead! I really don't have anything scrappy to share @ the moment...several things in the works though!

So excited for school to be OVER on Friday! My boys are just stressed & they have had it with school...can't really blame them! But they don't get much of a break during the summer either...it's just different though...in a good way!

I'm counting down the days to a getaway planned for me & hubby during the month of June :o) I have been to Vegas 4 times on ALL GIRL trips, but hubby has NEVER been. I have promised to take him...well, we finally got the trip booked! We will be celebrating 20 years of wedded bliss...should be tons of fun! Hope to take in a couple of shows too...just gotta decide which ones! There are so many great ones! I think hubby would really enjoy the Blue Man Group and I could easily see the "O" show again...but it is so PRICEY!

Well, that is about it for now...I have taken up reading again & am in the middle of another Nicholas Sparks book "The Rescue"...I love his writing!

Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

the REASONS why...

Hi everyone! Hope this finds you all enjoying your day! Especially those of you that are MOMS! It is one of the hardest, but most fulfilling jobs on the planet...I love being a MOM to my sons...I gotta give them credit though...they make the job so EASY! Love you guys!

I have a fun layout to share with you today - I created this layout last weekend for National Scrapbook Day, & then just never had time to get it posted to my blog :o( I was just excited to actually have time to do some scrapping!

I played along with Scrapbook.com and entered the All Day Challenge and also did many of their hourly challenges...I didn't win anything, but I did it more for the fun of it anyway! The All Day Challenge was to create a layout that answered this question: WHY DO I SCRAP?

So, I grabbed the spring school photos of my sons & got busy! I created this 8 1/2 x 11 layout (have you all tried this size? I have all along been a die hard 12 x 12 scrapper, but really enjoy MIXING THINGS UP with the smaller size too!!!):

the REASONS why

& here's a close up of my journaling:



I can't get enough of the Jenni Bowlin Die Cut Circle Label Mini Papers...they are so fun! AND the Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type Alpha! LOVE both of these scrappy products!


Not only did I use some brand spankin' new product on this layout, but I also dug into my stash for some older stuff too...LOVE it when that works out! It feels good!


Supplies: White cardstock-Georgia Pacific (bought in bulk @ Walmart), PP-Daisy Bucket Designs-Playlist-Fast Forward & Shuffle (had these in my stash for quite a while...feels so good to use up older supplies!!!), Jenni Bowlin Die Cut Circle Lable Mini Papers, Cosmo Cricket-Tiny Type alpha in green, Making Memories-Mini Shimmer Alpha in Metro Black, Stampin' Up-Mini Deco brads & Black ink, Date stamp, Machine Stitching


Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

A little Moxie Fab & PageMaps Challenge fun :o)

Hope the weekend is treating all of you just right...& Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful moms out there!

So how many of you have heard about Moxie Fab World? Am I seriously the last scrapper on the planet that finally got connected? What a fun & inspiration-filled website! & they give STUFF away all the time - gotta LOVE that! So, I couldn't wait to play along...

Their Three Cheers for Chairs Challenge is going on now thru May 10th ... so you still have time! All you have to do is create a project that incorporates a chair of some sort in an innovative way...& then link it back to their site. Easy Peasy, huh!?!

So I grabbed the PageMaps Blog Card sketch for the American Crafts Letterbox challenge and got busy! Here's the PageMaps Cards sketch & fab prize up for grabs over @ the PageMaps Blog:

And here's the card I came up with: RELAX

I am tickled with how this turned out! & I tried a little something new...I printed the image from Microsoft Office Publisher clip art & then used Stampin' Up Pastel chalks with a Blender Pen to color in the image...looks just like a stamp! Too cute!

I picked up these Letter brads by The Paper Studio on clearance @ Hobby Lobby some time ago...how fun are they!?!

So, that's it! 2 challenges in one project! LOVE it when that happens :o)

Supplies:

PageMaps card sketch, The Paper Studio-White card base, Letter brads, foam adhesive, PP-Basic Grey Lemonade 6x6 paperpad, Creative Memories-square punch, Stampin' Up-Pastels chalk & blender pen, Fiber-unknown, Scrapbook Adhesives-EZ Dots Repositionable, Machine stitching, Microsoft Office Clipart

Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

May 2010 Sketch Challenge @ Scrapjazz

Hi blog visitors! Whew! It's been a while, huh? Well, that "Week in the Life" project really got me excited about the everyday around here & I loved taking all those pictures! Now, to get the album completed :o) I've got a decent start...but a ways to go yet! I promise, I will share when it is done!

Just wanted to link you up to my most recent Scrapjazz article: May 2010 Sketch Challenge

Here's the sketch (my 1st EVER!!!):

& here's my layout inspired by the sketch:

I used some yummy Making Memories products on this layout...LOVE these photos from our San Diego trip in 2008!






If you play along, I'd love to see what you create! Link me up, ok???


Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

Scrapjazz....& "a week in the life".....

I just never quite know when my articles will be posted at Scrapjazz...I was surprised to see another article of mine post today! It is a fun article on creating a mini album using empty toilet paper rolls...go check it out...just for fun :o)

****************

I'm loving the process of "a week in the life"...having lots of fun taking tons of photos and gathering bits & pieces of our life this week! Here are just a few of my favorites so far:

MONDAY 4.19.10

{feeding Lucky...she deserves more attention than she gets!}

{school gear}

{Jeremy & Joel - giving Mom a quick smile before heading to school-thanks guys...you made my day!}

{Me - on the commute to work}

{Dad & Joel working on the lawnmower}

{Girl kitty, Shadow - she's one sassy cat & doesn't much care for the camera...}

TUESDAY 4.20.10

{Lunch with Kevin - the unsuspecting camera angle...gotcha!}

{track meet @ Ashland - Joel finished in 6th place in the triple jump!}

{these smelled amazing}

{Jeremy finished in 6th place in the javelin!}

{Dad & Jeremy - LOVE this picture}

WEDNESDAY 4.21.10

{a touch of Spring}

{Joel is all smiles today}

{getting the mail}

{Joel cleaning @ the locker}

Well, that's it for now...will try to check back in before the week is over...Prom is this weekend, so things will be busy around our house!

Thanks for stopping by! Take care!