Happy Birthday To Our Kind,Loving and Very Giving Son.

Happy Birthday P.J...we could not ask for a better son.We hope the next year brings you a lot of blessings and opportunities.We love you son.

Please Send A Birthday Card For A Veteran Turning 100 April 3.

If you are in any way shape or form grateful to our veterans for their service could you please send this gentleman Frank Ritenour a birthday card by April 3.Does not have to be fancy just a note saying thanks for your service and happy birthday.He is turning 100 and that in itself is a major victory.His address is as follows.

Frank Ritenour

Consulate Healthcare

803 S. Main Street

Woodstock, Virginia 22664


Frank will be so pleased

BEST Stamp Scrubber Ever.

I was in the cake baking aisle at Mikes looking for those boxes that have cupcake holders in them.I ran across this stamp scrubber from Wilton.Box was marked $13.99 but then reduced to $1.99.It is supposed to be used to clean their foam decorating stamps but it cleans red rubber just as well.I just pour a little of my cleaner in the tray and scrub across the ridges.Then lay the stamp to dry on the provided rack.The rack stores underneath the cleaner tray.Better than paint pads by a mile.I have seen them in two Mikes so they must be closing them out. Here is a picture of it if you decide to look for one.

YUM-O Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Today was baking day at my house.My DH was out of goodies for his lunch and requested chocolate chip cookies.I found this recipe a while back and it is really good.If you substitute any of the ingredients the cookies will not taste the same.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies.

3/4 cup butter flavored shortening

1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vanilla(I use real Mexican clear vanilla)

1 large egg

1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup of semisweet,white or milk chocolate chips(I usually combine all three)

1 cup chopped pecans(I use walnuts as pecans are really high priced right now)(see cooks notes below)

Cooks Notes:Recipe lives up to the name.Baking instructions are excellent.Cooling the cookies on foil gives them a better texture than cooling on a rack.DO NOTE:If you omit nuts,use an additional 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

Preliminaries:Preheat oven to 375 degrees.Place sheets of foil on the counter for cooling the cookies.

Procedure:Combine shortening,sugar,milk and vanilla in large bowl.Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended.Beat in egg.
Combine flour,salt and baking soda mix dry ingredients well with a whisk until blended.Mix into shortening mixture just until blended.Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough (I use an ice cream scoop)onto ungreased baking sheet(save time and clean up by using parchment paper on your cookie sheet)
Bake 1 sheet at a time for 8-10 minutes for chewy cookies(cookies will appear light and moist) or 11-13 minutes for crisp cookies.Let cool 2 minutes on baking sheet then transfer to foil to cool completely.
YIELDS about 1 1/2 dozen very large cookies or 3 dozen smaller ones.


Here are the final results.

 
Don't forget about the giveaway - read the February 15 2013 post for all the details.

Memory Boxes...LUV To Make Them.

I recently made a memory box for my friend Kati's husband John for a Christmas present.His dad passed away a little while back and it was so nice to be able to find the right poem and other things to honor him.He was a Marine so I went with that theme.I gave it to him last Sunday...I think he liked it.

The next two are for my daughter in laws father and her brother.I had made one for my daughter in law Shawn when her Grandma Lyons passed away.Her mom liked it and asked me to make her son one and I had planned on making one for Shawn's dad anyway for Christmas.Making them for people you know is harder because it is sort of sad to remember but after they are finished it is like visiting an old friend.

Now back to sewing the rest of my Christmas projects up.P.J bottoms and fleece hats for the girls and a blanket for Miss Ella......then back to stamping.Merry Christmas all.

Thank You Snickers Bar.

My DH has been buying Snickers bars to take in his lunch.They carry a code in them for free movie cash.We have won about every time we get a code.Last summer we were able to go to a movie at least 3 times a month for FREE.

Today we went to the 9:00AM as it is only $2.50 to get in and we had $3.00 each in movie bucks.What did we spend all that hard earned movie cash on you may ask?

The Bourne Legacy

   

We are pretty big fans of the whole Bourne franchise..I am a Matt Damon fan and he was great but I can get used to Jeremy Renner in no time at all.....if you want to see a good spy movie go see this.....oh and look for free movie codes inside Snicker bars.No coupon to mail in just match your code and if you win..print out your ticket voucher.No I do not work for the candy company.

S'mores Cake.

Another yummy dessert to take to a picnic.
S'mores cake

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening 
1/4 cup butter, softened 
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
MARSHMALLOW FROSTING:
4 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips, divided
Directions
Line two 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a large bowl, cream the shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine cracker crumbs and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
Transfer to prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In a large heavy saucepan, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar over low heat. With a hand mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160°, about 8-10 minutes. Pour into a large bowl; add vanilla. Beat on high until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes.
Place a cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 2/3 cup frosting and sprinkle with half of chips. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining chips. Yield: 12 servings.

Decorate This!: Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars

This woman has the best food blog--well goodies blog is a better word. www.decoratethis.blogspot.com

Decorate This!: Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars: Once a month, my dad and his friends get together to play a friendly game of poker, and I usually provide some sweets!  Recently, I was ask....

Have A Blessed Easter.

From our family to yours Happy Easter.

Happy Fall.

I thought it would look cute to bend his legs like a shelf sitter.These Dies remind me of the old Darcies stuff.

Scarecrow Happy Halloween.

Just some fun cards using the die cuts and Stickles.

Boo From The Crew.

When I first started scrap booking I bought a bunch of die cuts.These have been socked away for years.I don't remember who even made them but you had to cut them out no perfs here.They sure make up cute and fast though.I used a CB folder for the black background.

Flip Flop Kind Of Day.

I found this word stamp at Archivers a year or so ago and just now found the right flip flops to go with it.The word stamp is from Great Impressions D400.The flip flops are from K&CO.The frame is a Nestis die.Has polka dot paper on the inside as well.

Remember this is the very last day to enter to win the blog candy(rules are in post down below this one) Winner will be posted here on Monday morning so make sure to check back.

Remember Your First Bike?

My first bike was red so decided this one needed to be that color.The bike stamp is from Inkadinkado-60-00728.Did you know that they are now owned by Wilton brands?Who would of thought cake and stamps could coexist.The word stamp is from EK Success it is in a set of 8 called words from the heart RSNAITOO4/8

Don't forget about the blog candy giveaway going on...some great things in the $50.00 prize package this time.
I have decided to sell off some of my stash after using it so this bike stamp is for sale-$9.50 plus cheap postage, insurance extra.It has been stamped once.E mail me at goblue11654@yahoo.com and put bike stamp in subject line please.

A Trip To Amish Country .

My DH and son have been doing the male bonding thing all week in Minnesota.They went with my DH's brothers and a couple of other relatives.They went canoeing and slept in the wilderness...........ya OK not so much fun I am thinking so I stay home and I get to have my kind of fun.
My friend Tina and I decided to go to Shipshewana to shop and eat at the Blue Gate restaurant.YUM.
We left MI around 8:00AM and just took our time.We stopped for coffee and at a warehouse place that usually sells all tools.Tina found a library card cabinet for storing fat quarters in.REALLY nice for a great price.We then arrived at Shipshi around 10:00AM.We hit up a couple of little antique shops and then went to Davis Mercantile.There they have a ton of cute shops and two that are really nice.The Scrapyard is a scrap and stamp store that has just about everything you could want in scrap and stamp.The owner Linda Bontrager is so very nice.They are also hooked up with the candy store next door,Aunt Millie's.Just looking at the candy made you gain 10 pounds.We took some pictures of some of the goodies in the scrap yard so enjoy and then go visit them.



Owner Linda Bontrager





LOTS of pretty paper and stock.

Lots of pretty Prima's

My friend Tina who will be playing Vanna White in the quilting segment of this post.

So darn cute.

I thought this was really cute.

Another cute idea--they are all over the store.

Lots of Bo Bunny

One of the largest selections of My Favorite Things stamps I have seen anywhere.Some just had to come home with me,they insisted.


 OK now on to the quilting segment of this mini daycation.

The quilt shop is 3 floors and the bottom is the bargain bin store called The Lang Store and The Cuddle Corner.The Cuddle Corner sells all soft fleecy baby fabric.Lots of precut panels to make your own.Some of the made up ones reminded me of ice cream.The pink and browns were Neapolitan of course.

Vanna/Tina showing off the great fabric.

Walls of fleece precuts.


Well that concludes the mini tour of the Davis Mercantile that houses all these quaint little shops.Oh and before I forget the Scrapyard will ship so if you ever need anything jot down this number and then call and ask for Linda.Phone is (260)768-7728.The website is www.scrapyardshipshewana.com the E mail is scrapyard@maplenet.net the snail mail addy is Scrapyard co Davis Mercantile 3rd floor  PO Box 134 225 Harrison Shipshewana,IN 46565.
Oh and last but not least we ate at the Bluegate restaurant...great food and our waitress was the sweetest person.It was a long day and the weather was a bit muggy and overcast but all in all it was a great trip.





Not Stamped BUT Lots Of Scoring.

I LOVE making rosettes.I bought a Tim Holtz die to make smaller ones but I think it is just as easy to use the Martha Stewart score board and make my own.I used netting from Hobby Lobby and Hobby Lobby ribbon and the flower is a Prima.I bought the frame and the smile saying at Hobby Lobby.It hangs in Grace and Ella's room that we made over at our house.They have a place for all their toys and books when they come and stay and they like to look at pictures of their mom and dad so made this up to surprise Gracie next time she comes out.

Happy Birthday Sis

My sister Beverly passsed into Heaven almost a year ago.Today is her birthday and she would have been 53.Cancer took her body but Jesus took her soul.She is celebrating in Heaven today.Happy Birthday Bev until we are together in our Heavenly home.

OK.........................Out Of Oz.

This is the last one of the panel I bought at Archivers.I think once you get a bottle of Stickles in your possession you feel like everything you touch must be sparkly.Double click on the pic and it will bring it up in a new window then you can see the glitz.The stamped saying is unknown.
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.