tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55030125815921766682024-02-19T08:36:48.925-08:00Bit O'HalloweenFor my love of Halloween... with a little bit of everything else thrown in.TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-61723178668239738022012-01-09T09:35:00.000-08:002012-01-09T09:35:12.397-08:00Crafting CouponsHere is a link to "Obsessed with Scrapbooking's" page where you can find current coupons for the craft stores! Click <a href="http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/search/label/coupons" target="_blank">here</a> to go to her page to print.TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-16735109791791189362012-01-09T09:27:00.000-08:002012-01-09T09:27:39.236-08:00Blackberry Cobbler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2-hG3ZzYchWRBVH61wrm4h7NdGcs7Cwy5UUXp1XojbUDEt4QMxHyxlWm8EIgtqq8NC9b9pV7H_uzvS3iRHqSkavqPXCIzxFIOnMxlTBYJbDWGhHodEvPM_tcSWIl4r-i0k07knwn0Ho/s1600/1051404183_e561793690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>I did 2 soups last night. A broccoli cheese soup and a taco soup - both from allrecipes.com. Both turned out great though everyone liked the broccoli cheese better. THEN I made a blackberry cobbler - OMG! It was divine and so easy its almost embarrassing. The recipe is from the Pioneer Woman and can be found <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/08/the_great_cobbl/" target="_blank">here</a>. It is a must do!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2-hG3ZzYchWRBVH61wrm4h7NdGcs7Cwy5UUXp1XojbUDEt4QMxHyxlWm8EIgtqq8NC9b9pV7H_uzvS3iRHqSkavqPXCIzxFIOnMxlTBYJbDWGhHodEvPM_tcSWIl4r-i0k07knwn0Ho/s1600/1051404183_e561793690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2-hG3ZzYchWRBVH61wrm4h7NdGcs7Cwy5UUXp1XojbUDEt4QMxHyxlWm8EIgtqq8NC9b9pV7H_uzvS3iRHqSkavqPXCIzxFIOnMxlTBYJbDWGhHodEvPM_tcSWIl4r-i0k07knwn0Ho/s400/1051404183_e561793690.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-39502143843910402112012-01-01T17:55:00.000-08:002012-01-01T17:57:30.803-08:00Homemade Soups!The rain and the flurries started today so I lost myself in the kitchen and made some homemade soups. One, an Italian sausage tortellini was divine - it was the kids favorite. (<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/italian-sausage-soup-with-tortellini/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Italian Sausage Tortellini recipe</a>) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4Hzuow6WYp9O_ukzmdUSzHFEfWU2dFkxBHdnzVErPw4Tvv8QiMXjIYPtMWVw45tVKaLr-IQAEdLh86xDpL0K33uq4N8-S7wSYFkjQHkA3uj-QkFd8Di5RIMZKoh9hCnl3Y3266USx1o/s1600/photo+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4Hzuow6WYp9O_ukzmdUSzHFEfWU2dFkxBHdnzVErPw4Tvv8QiMXjIYPtMWVw45tVKaLr-IQAEdLh86xDpL0K33uq4N8-S7wSYFkjQHkA3uj-QkFd8Di5RIMZKoh9hCnl3Y3266USx1o/s400/photo+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The chicken tortellini was my honey's fav. (<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-tortellini-soup/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Chicken Tortellini Recipe)</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_9IWASGQ9c8IIXRXyc_2OYjIgL1lehvQdDaZppixTJGRYLZnyjv5ebBDgamiExpos54nXSZyXu5_wV98VOWU3D7_5dnIGXmh-LD7eoaSyolWkVTAt7BdlNhuOKGfagkyTVghnKadBHg/s1600/photo-1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_9IWASGQ9c8IIXRXyc_2OYjIgL1lehvQdDaZppixTJGRYLZnyjv5ebBDgamiExpos54nXSZyXu5_wV98VOWU3D7_5dnIGXmh-LD7eoaSyolWkVTAt7BdlNhuOKGfagkyTVghnKadBHg/s400/photo-1+%2528800x600%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Served these up with whole grain rolls and a side caesar salad. Everyone was pretty happy!TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-70656792241750012992011-12-21T13:36:00.000-08:002011-12-21T13:48:18.879-08:00Printable Holiday TagsWell - Ive run out of Christmas gift tags! Seems I never have enough. So I went searching for some and found these ADORABLE tags.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlGWBKxssI8uQborH8XhG-k0T3_WzoblzWzzbNqNN3Wb0MMwvGDuhZDvCmFE1_mjQkAOCjsFVixf7n1ipjk01kgDZAERzbcoD11IHJV2nwpFewMLBDZxxkn6TMr-900B2xhOYEdL57rQ/s1600/HOLIDAY-TAGS-BLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlGWBKxssI8uQborH8XhG-k0T3_WzoblzWzzbNqNN3Wb0MMwvGDuhZDvCmFE1_mjQkAOCjsFVixf7n1ipjk01kgDZAERzbcoD11IHJV2nwpFewMLBDZxxkn6TMr-900B2xhOYEdL57rQ/s400/HOLIDAY-TAGS-BLOG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
To print these at home, click here: <a href="http://heidistock.blogspot.com/2011/10/christmas-gift-tag-freebie.html" target="_blank">Heidi Stock Design</a>. They are too cute and her Etsy shop is quite nice too! Enjoy!TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-50994414968335973072011-12-11T19:14:00.000-08:002011-12-31T09:32:10.920-08:00Christmas Decorations (finally)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">In between the normal tasks of life (work, kids, cleaning and shopping for the holiday!), Ive managed to get a few crafts completed! First I made these trees. </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlWozBAYeta49aPT99L_X9wmSfiKW1ZuKcsePVEhXiBB1ww901Dn-Thm-wNXT48-f7qb_iwkGDd5r1xrGk4CZ3p0IaJeNNQlFRNayFDRv-PQJGGMVuo606X-BPZSQTKmXc-XBZQGquh4/s1600/mantle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlWozBAYeta49aPT99L_X9wmSfiKW1ZuKcsePVEhXiBB1ww901Dn-Thm-wNXT48-f7qb_iwkGDd5r1xrGk4CZ3p0IaJeNNQlFRNayFDRv-PQJGGMVuo606X-BPZSQTKmXc-XBZQGquh4/s640/mantle.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">I saw them on eighteen25 and you can find the directions </span> <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/11/glitter-trees.html">here</a> I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I changed 2 things. One, I tacky glued the form shapes first, glittered them then sprayed on spray adhesive and put on another coat of glitter. My other change was instead of painting the candlesticks, I wrapped them with beaded cord. Easy and so cute!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr-If2Sj2FWoOOYZO74J1QNS_qJWpVnLHHKJKJiz8LXM1ILCqpyF6-SpZEVZxOTqdykJrZ8rt04i_Q5NvIVdzT4FINDDJV2sYpw2GOkEp68kQj5epzC79xPH-xKGM2V3qmThicZN64yU/s1600/trees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr-If2Sj2FWoOOYZO74J1QNS_qJWpVnLHHKJKJiz8LXM1ILCqpyF6-SpZEVZxOTqdykJrZ8rt04i_Q5NvIVdzT4FINDDJV2sYpw2GOkEp68kQj5epzC79xPH-xKGM2V3qmThicZN64yU/s640/trees.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The rest of the shelf decor was just as easy. I threw up some Christmas greenery, tied on a couple bows, set up two really nice candles and some large ornaments that look like wrapped gifts. I bought the snow man (which is really a storage tin) from Michaels. I used a 40% coupon and I think it cost me $2. I quickly printed the "Believe" off the web and put it in a frame that I already had. (I dont recall from where). I was pretty pleased with myself, feeling like I had gotten a lot accomplished in little time and was quite thrifty doing it. But something wasnt quite right. My shelf wasnt balanced, so back to Michaels I went! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I picked up a rectangle shape of styrofoam, wrapped it with a sheet of candy caned striped scrapbook paper, spray painted some twigs (from a nearby park) white, added a touch of silver glitter and made him a nice little winter wonderland. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMKrmoD8_THQYrKlGX57VxkoNfIZ2mQgrIBs7PJI6Xz8kQKBU3daey6OK_H0NhF8Uo0Qzaxn48Cqxlmkv_qUnTyjsA1BvDRptEb0uSuReYzgGlpKjXDkvH2o5X1dMzXA5dQsYz2gfwlg/s1600/block.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMKrmoD8_THQYrKlGX57VxkoNfIZ2mQgrIBs7PJI6Xz8kQKBU3daey6OK_H0NhF8Uo0Qzaxn48Cqxlmkv_qUnTyjsA1BvDRptEb0uSuReYzgGlpKjXDkvH2o5X1dMzXA5dQsYz2gfwlg/s400/block.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, isnt this much better?</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ5tkLlruslyV5EclXeMOODe5o1e5sOML8x0Ay4YRMa0Q3qMWkb064chFs2JqKVuODoYJP8UW9ImdT14J8oSEECmnReNR8R7KiodFf4vIQjGjs56H8w3Y8OJYCSLFQHhseMedMje4IZY/s1600/done1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ5tkLlruslyV5EclXeMOODe5o1e5sOML8x0Ay4YRMa0Q3qMWkb064chFs2JqKVuODoYJP8UW9ImdT14J8oSEECmnReNR8R7KiodFf4vIQjGjs56H8w3Y8OJYCSLFQHhseMedMje4IZY/s640/done1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span>TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-63561701320305048712011-12-11T18:13:00.000-08:002011-12-11T18:35:59.037-08:00Wow - its been a busy few weeks!Lets see... well, I must admit that after my last post, my head was still stuck on Halloween for a bit and I continued crafting Halloween decor. Its snowed here in NJ on Halloween and I was completely robbed and I just needed a little more time to get it out of my system. Im glad to admit that that I am totally focused on Christmas now and have been quite busy.<br />
I will mention quickly that we had a great Thanksgiving and started something new this year. We did a bake-off of sorts. We teamed up (we have 8 family members mind you) and had 3 teams of 2 people each - we were excited to cook yummy sweets and have the 20+ guests enjoy and vote. My youngest step-daughter Jackie and I did two desserts. First we did easy individual oreo cheesecakes - you can find the recipe for those all over the web and they are so easy. The second cheesecake we did was a caramel apple cheesecake by following this recipe - <a href="http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/09/caramel-apple-cheesecake-bars.html#.TuVjFGik30s.blogger">Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars | The Girl Who Ate Everything</a>. Simply awesome and everybody loved it and it was an easy win! Make this if you love cheesecake - it is to die for!TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5503012581592176668.post-50058450141314998972011-11-12T12:12:00.000-08:002011-11-12T12:12:25.855-08:00Just do it!So I'm the one that has the desire to craft, has some fairly decent ideas and a TON of craft supplies gathering dust in my garage because I never make the time to just do it. Today is the that is going to change.<br />
<br />
On the note of craft supplies - I LOVE HALLOWEEN, and Michaels is having an awesome 70% off sale on fall items and the scrapbook papers I've gotten as well as all the other Halloween/fall items Ive gotten for practically nothing makes this the now or never time for me. I literally got about $300 worth of stuff for $60. My once organized garage has been taken over by bags from Michaels and the dollar stores and I must get organized and on to some crafting.<br />
<br />
SADLY, Halloween is over and I should be concentrating on Thanksgiving and Christmas and I'm going to try REALLY hard not to let myself sink into just doing Halloween crafts... did I mention I love Halloween? Stay tuned for a few things I am going to throw together this weekend (I'm starting with some simple items). Pictures to come soon.TRACYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478352736635502640noreply@blogger.com0