Wintery Pictorial

This and That

-Beth Moore (my favorite bible study guru) has a new book coming out on Feb 2, So Long Insecurity. She is going to lead a group study/discussion on her blog beginning a week after the release. I called Lifeway and they put a copy on hold for me. Join in. I am starting her new Breaking Free at church during a women's bible study. But this blog study seems a little more intimate.

-I just visited restaurant.com via this FANTASTIC site and got a $25 certificate to Hacienda and The Pantry for $4!!! You heard me. Use the discount code BONUS. I think the offer ends in January so HURRY! I call the company and they said they expire after a year.

-I just watched a DVRed episode of Oprah, Food 101. Alicia Silverstone (who doesn't LOVE Clueless?!) was on talking about her vegan diet. I don't know if I could go all the way with this but she has a great website with great recipes and other fun things.

-YEAH FOR SNOW/SLEET DAYS!!! The dogs and I are curled up with hot cocoa. Poor husband had to go into work-the old people get restless when they don't eat. Pray for his safe return home tonight!

Warm and Toasty

We are expecting some kind of snow/ice storm tomorrow. The weather people (who haven't had the greatest track record of predicting snow days recently) say we should get "up to 2 inches of snow" and "~1/4 inch of ice". Now I know people in the north are like "2 inches of snow...really?!". I lived in the @$%# cold great state of Minnesota for 2 years in jr. high. School was only cancelled twice. Once, in the middle of the day for a blizzard. When the bus dropped me off I stepped into 4 feet of unplowed snow (up to my waist) and I trudged home not even knowing if I was going the right way because I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. The second time was because the temperature was so cold we could not go outside with any part of skin showing or we would get frost bitten. So in comparison 2 inches of snow doesn't seem like much. But it's defiantly the ice that can cause problems (icy bridges and hills, power outages). I braved the crazed Wal-Mart today in hopes of a snow day. Not to buy bread and milk like the rest of the 50,000 people in Wal-mart but to purchase...Breaking Dawn...dun dun dun. I plan on making a day of it on my couch. Along with these that have begun to pile up.

It's a Photoshop kinda Sunday

I took a photo class awhile back and learned a lot...but not near enough. I still need practice and Photoshop. I am in the process of conducting some self teaching through online tutorials. I found these photos I took of my niece, Peri, about a year ago. Some were blown out (attempts to move off of auto on my camera) and some were just lacking. I opened Photoshop tonight and played around. Now I can't tell you what I did because I was just messin' around and I think ended up with some better images than I started with.

I love the effect of this one. Kind of 70'sish. I think her expression shows up better in the edited version and I LOVE the light halo (from the sun) than seems to be lassoing her! 

This one was blown out but I just adore her expression and posture.

Don't even think the editing version of this one is correct yet. It's lacking detail or something.

Lastly, just a little detail goes a long way!

No MINKY for YOU!

So it is a DEFINITE truth that I am not able to embroider on Minky fabric. You know that super soft and plush fabric that usually has raised dots. It's great for baby blankets and is usually backed with a silky fabric. I knew it would be a treacherous endeavor. I tried to find tips online and they all said "don't do it". I should have know then. I was for a girl at church who was going to give it as a present. I warned her that I might ruin it and I wasn't charging her for it. I did all these extra steps to it, used spray adhesive and a water soluble stabilizer and pinned it to the hoop. And all I got was a product worth of *epicfail*. I might be exaggerating but it was VERY frustrating. The backside was a HUGE knotted mess!

So I tried to remedy the situation and came up with this for the front. Which I thought was not too bad.

The backside remedy not such a success. I found a REALLY cute Bible verse.

Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

I loved this verse and had never heard it before. It will defiantly be going on future baby blankets. Anyway the stitching did not go so well on the back. I decided that I had better quit while I was ahead.

Feeling guilty about presenting her with the sad excuse for an embroidered baby blanket I thought I would make her daughter a cute t-shirt. Until. Until the needle fell out on the last letter and ruined the entire shirt. DONE!

I Know It's Saturday

but get it done when you can, right?

So here's this weeks menu.

Sunday- HOMEMADE FAJITAS: we love to make these together when we have time. we use our tortilla press and maseca. we got the totilla press at a local mexican food store for ~$7 and it doesn't take up much room. you just add water the the maseca roll it into a ball press and pan fry. yum.

Monday-CHICKEN SPAGHETTI: who knew this was a southern dish. i've had it before but never actually made it so i was looking for a recipe and could only find it on some southern websites (not even on foodnetwork.com). lots of options out there, it seems like everyone just adds what they like to it. i'm making a double batch and taking some to a family at church who's mother just had surgery. it should freeze well.

Tuesday-BLACKEND TILAPIA SANDWICHES: supper easy. just blacken the tilapia and we use ciabatta rolls.

Wednesday-CHILLI: coby is cooking it for a church dinner.

Thurday- TACOS

Friday- HOMEMADE PIZZA

I just signed up on shortcuts.com and cellfire.com. They are electronic coupon sites where you can load your local grocery store card. Super easy.

Before the Cullens

This was on TV last night. Before Bella there was Star, before Edaward there was David. Now the plot is definatly not as developed as the Twilight series but it does have some 1980's aspects to be appreciated.

Meals on Monday

Here's my new fav website. Lots of resources but accessable and easy to use.
It's meal plan Monday. She lists meal ideas and has links to other sources. Here's my plan for the week.
Ravioli and Vegetable Soup (I might add a few frozen meatballs into the mix)
Five-Spice Turkey and Lettuce Wrap
White beans and cornbread (jiffy is super cheap and versitile) -no recipe just cook 'em
Spicey black bean burgers (I bake them and put a slice of cheddar cheese on top (sans bun) with the green hot sauce) and baked sweet potatos- a great flavor combination and quick and easy

I'm off today for MLK day. I'm going to run the the grocery store, finish up some laundry, and start some sewing projects. One for the Valentine Day exchange. Can't show pictures till after V-Day but I think the project will be super cute. I also have to embroidery a blanket for a girl in my Sunday School class. It's my first project that will be for someone who is giving it as a gift. It's on that minky blanket material so I am a little nervous as to how it will turn out. I'll post pictures when I'm done.

Birthdays and Beyond

I have spent the past few weeks making some things with my sewing machine. My friend's baby, Macey, turned one on Friday and had her birthday party today. I told Jenny I would make her a birthday girl crown and shirt. This is what I came up with.

Sorry it's so blurry. I forgot to take a picture of the t-shirt before she put it on. It has her name and a cupcake on it.

I also made her a dress, a doll, and a crayon roll for her present. Again, I forgot to take pictures before I gave it to her.

Happy 1st birthday Macey Brook!

After the birthday bash I went and got a pedicure. I haven't had a professional pedicure since my wedding! My feet not only look better but feel better. I always forget how much I enjoy a good pedicure until I get another. Then I tell myself "I'm going to do this more often". Some how it just doen't happen.

Hoping the rest of your weekend is as relaxing as ours!

(Sorry if this post is all whopper-jawed. I am trying out the the post editor. Not so sure about it yet)

A New Look for the New Year

I've got a new look. I got tired of the other, a little to dark. It was affecting my mood. I know that this layout is still a little monochromatic but it does have a lighter feel don't ya think? (Let me know if it's hard to read. I'm trying to find the colors that make it easiest to read.)
My aunt died last week and her funeral was on Monday. Such a sad time but I did have some surprise visitors. My cousin, who I thought was not going to make it to the funeral, called from Georgia on Saturday morning. Her father is actually my cousin so my aunt was actually her grandmother. Anyway, she called and said she was wanting to come in for the funeral and asked if she and her brother could stay with us. Our wee little house only has one extra bedroom but no bed. So they ended up, graciously, staying on blow up mattresses in the den. Someday I will have a quaint little guest room with fresh flowers and a water carafe.


We spent most of the weekend at my parents. Nothing to exciting. It was nice to be able to come back to my house and watch tv and talk without "the adults". During meals we talked about how we are grown and married but still feel like we end up at "the kids table".
Lots of good tv shows are starting up again. The Community is all new tonight. LOVE me some Joel McHale! I have also gotten sucked into

The Bachelor

this season. Those girls are crazier than ever! Big Love started last Sunday (it's trash, I know, don't judge). And...........LOST...Feb 2!!!!!!!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

This cold...


KATV story
AR online story

There are shelters opening up for those who are homeless and usually don't seek shelter. They are in need of many personal care supplies, pillows, and snacks. My Sunday School class is planning a trip this afternoon to deliver men's and women's socks and underware, cough drops, Advil, and gloves. I'm sure there are shelters like this opening up all over the US due to these extreme conditions. Please think about doing what you can, even if it's sending up a prayer for those without homes.

Coooooookin'

I have been really making an effort these days to have meals planed for the week. Plan A for us when things aren't planned is to go out to eat. It's not that I don't enjoy cooking at home and if it's planned out it's not anymore trouble than getting in the car (in this FREEZING weather) and going somewhere. Anyway, here are some of the meals we have had the past few days that have all been very good and they have ALL been super easy.

Indian Spiced Pitas

Salmon

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Beef Stir-Fry

Spinach Manicotti

Chicken Enchiladas (I just bought the "Salsa Verde" instead of the tomatillos)

I have a few more that I plan on making but will test drive before I post.

SnowDaySnowDay!

But where's the snow?
Yep school was cancelled the first day back from break and yet there doesn'e seem to be much of anything on the streets. Oh well. It gave me time to make some updates to the blog and back up my ENTIRE computer on an external harddrive. Something that has needed to be done for quite sometime. I feel much better about it now. Off to the fabric store for some felt. I know adventurous. I'll post pictures a little later of the projects I have been working on lately.
Keep warm!