Mama's In The Kitchen!

I chat online with a group of moms, and one of those moms has been a terrible influence on me. She's always cooking something in her crock pot, and I finally caved and decided I should try it too. :o) Isn't that awful?! I actually made a Beef Stroganoff earlier this week, but I want to tweak that recipe a bit before I share it. Tonight I made french dip sandwiches, and they really couldn't have been easier. I *heart* french dip sandwiches! I can never get enough! NEVER! Hubby even enjoyed these. He said they were as good as the cheesy beef sandwiches we get at Portillo's when we go to Chicago, but I think he was being a tad generous there. I mean, they were tastey, but I don't know that ANYTHING can top Portillo's!!

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

2-3 lb Beef Rump Roast
2 cans Campbell's Beef Consomme
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Mozzerella Cheese
Butter
Hoagie or Sub Buns

Place roast in slow cooker and cover with both cans of consomme. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Remove roast from slow cooker, and pull apart with fork. Save juice for dipping. Slice and butter buns, place on cookie sheet and broil on low until they've reached desired crispiness. Remove bun tops, and add beef to bun bottoms, then cover with two slices of cheese and return to broiler to melt. If you've never broiled things like this before, please notet that they go FAST! I stand right at the oven with my eye on it the entire time to make sure it doesn't burn. Once the cheese is melted, you're good to go! Yum city!

Then, after dinner, I decided to make some banana bread...



For those who aren't aware, I love Goofy. I used to collect all things Goofy, but have cut back substantially on my purchases in the last few years. Hubby bought me this kitchen timer for Christmas last year though, and I just love it! I had to get it in the picture. :)

For the banana bread, I used this recipe. The only changes I made were that I used two large bananas (not sure if that was more or less than what was recommended, but it worked), and added about a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. :o)

If you decide to try either recipe, let me know!

You're The Berry Best

Today's CBC Challenge is to make anything but a card. I have seen these little packets around the blogsphere for awhile (usually with a KitKat bar inside), so I thought I'd try my hand at one.... Except to be different (you know how I love to be different!), I put something else inside:



I saw these near the check out at Michael's one day, and I had to buy some because they totally took me back to my childhood. I bought a pack for me, and a pack to give as a gift in this little pouchy. :) The pouch is super easy to make. Basically just measure your cardstock so it is big enough to wrap all the way around, with an inch or so overhang at the ends, then secure it with adhesive and crimp each end. It's hard to see the crimping in the photo, but it's there, I swear.

And again, don't the new Tart n' Tangy and old Fruity Phrases sets go so well together? It's one of my new favorite combinations.

The designer paper is from SU's Summer Picnic line. I've had a few comments from people saying that they'd wished they had bought that paper when it was available in the summer mini.... but don't forget it's also in the current catalog! It's not too late!

Don't forget to click the links in my sidebar to see what the other Challenge Chicks have created this week, and if you play along link your work on Courtney's blog for a chance to win a little prize. :)

Finally, I know, I know, this is the third day in a row that I've posted since I said I was cutting back. In my defense though, I made this a few weeks ago. It was included in that final package that was sent to my summer sister, Lorie. ;o)

Enjoy the day!


Details:
Stamps: Tart n' Tangy, Fruity Phrases (both Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DP
Other: Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers (on strawberry), Stickles, Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Chiclets, Paper Crimper

The things kids say, part 1

Somewhere along the line, Henry became "You". Here are a few recent conversations:

Me: Who put your socks behind the crib?
H: You.
Me: You did?
H: heh.

Me: Who's Mama's bug?
H: You!

You get the picture. So, I've been trying to teach him his name... his real name. Here is the conversation that took place last night:

Me: What's your name, honey?
H: You.
Me: No, your name is Henry.
H: Heh.
Me: Can you say Henry?
H: No. (lol!)
Me: Can you say Hen?
H: Hen.
Me: Ree?
H: Ree.
Me: Henry?
H: You.

Oye. Back to the drawing board. ;o)

Simple Redemption

Redemption from what, you ask? Yesterday's card, of course! hee hee. I couldn't leave that at the top of my blog for more than a day, so I had to make something and get it posted. :) I ended up grabbing one of the many (and I do mean MANY) Fluffles images that was sent to me when I requested them on the WRAK forum on SCS. People were so generous, I love it! I've had them for a few years now, and I think I've only used one or two of them so far. That's never a good thing! Fluffles needs to get out and play more!

I used a cool grey (CG1) and a warm grey (WG5) copic together on this card. I wasn't sure how it would work, but I think the end result is cute. I used the cool grey to pick up the warm grey and then applied it to the paper. Then I used the CG1 marker alone as the floor with some clear Stickles applied over the top for texture.

The idea for the partially cuttlebug'd background with the sentiment at the bottom came from this card, that was recently featured on Taylor's blog. The swirly folder reminded me of unwound yarn. And I am loving this dark grey and cameo coral color combo. A vast improvement over yesterday, no? LOL!

Well, my plan to cut back on blogging doesn't seem to be working so well! I'll be back tomorrow with another CBC Challenge, and then maybe I'll skip Wednesday. Maybe. This stamping thing is addictive, in case you haven't noticed. ;o) The good news though, is that I snuck in an episode of Ugly Betty last night, so now I'm only one week behind on that show. I'll get caught up eventually...

Enjoy the day,

Details:
Stamps: Fluffles (Stampendous), Feeling Groovy (Verve Stamps)
Ink: Going Grey, Black (Unknown)
Paper: Cameo Coral, Dark Grey (Unknown), White (Unknown)
Other: Heart brad, Grey Taffeta Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

There Are No Words...

I really have no idea what to title this post. I thought about a lot of things.... "When Good Cards Go Bad" ..... "More is More" .... "Color Combo's No Sane Stamper Would Choose" etc., etc., etc. LOL! This is like the dress that one girl wore for picture day. You were pretty sure you didn't like it, but couldn't stop looking at it, and by the end of the day you wanted one for yourself. hee hee.

Remember how I told you I was a Bellaholics Challenge Queen? Well, one of our other Queen's is in charge of an embellishment challenge, and this week's challenge was to combine ribbon or bows with at least five buttons and a Stamping Bella image. I received this image from my friend Lorie quite awhile ago, so I thought I'd color it and use it for this challenge. I love the coloring job, and the sparkling wings. I can even wrap my mind around the semi-stay-puff clouds. I tried to use the buttons as stars, but they kind of got away from me. I should have stuck with all yellow, rather than trying to incorporate all of the colors in the DP. Then there's the ribbon. Oye. I think it's a cute approach, but on the wrong card. How fun would it be with a Christmasy image in the middle under the ribbon? I can see it in my head, and it looks great. Of course, I could see this one in my head too, so maybe that doesn't say much. LOL.

You know what though? You have to take the good with the bad. Sometimes ideas work out, sometimes they don't. Life goes on, and I'll live to stamp another day!

I know I said I wasn't going to post daily anymore, but I had to make a card yesterday for World Card Making Day, so I thought I'd share it. I might have to post another one tomorrow night just so it isn't the first thing new readers see for two days straight. :o)

Anyhow, I hope I gave you a chuckle for your Sunday morning!

Enjoy the day,



Details:
Stamps: Halobella (Stamping Bella), Sentiment (Unknown - a gifted image)
Ink: Black (Unknown), Elegant Eggplant (sponging)
Paper: Eggplant Envy, Mint Melody, White (Unknown), DP (The Paper Studio)
Other: Buttons (The Paper Studio), Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Small Gemstone (on halo), Copic Markers, Dazzling Diamonds, Liquid Applique

Oh, Bee!

I think I've mentioned before that Henry's name for Jack is "Bee". It's short for baby, and he's been using it almost as long as Jack has been alive. Now we all use it from time to time. It makes me smile, because my middle initial is B., and I have long been known as Sarah B. to family and friends, as well as Sairabee to my online friends. My nick-name for Henry is Bug, so now I have a Bee and a Bug to love. :)

The other day, I was loading Jack into the van and said, "Oh, Jack!" under the sheer weight of it all. Henry was standing next to me and started saying, "Oh, Bee!" over and over again. It was adorable. Whenever Jack spits up, or gets his hands on something he shouldn't have, or what have you, Henry is right there saying, "Oh, Bee!"

I thought it was a fitting title for this post. This is Jack's first meal of prunes. He loved them (as does his Papa.... *blech*)! Jack is a messy eater. We rarely ever had any food go out of Henry's mouth when we were feeding him (and we started him two months earlier than Jack!), but Jack is a different story. As soon as I put it in, he pushes most of it out, so I'm constantly at his face with the spoon trying to recover what I can before it gets on his clothes. You'd almost think I'd use one of our sixty gajillion bibs, wouldn't you? Maybe next time I'll remember to do that. Doh.

Oh, that's another thing. Henry says, "Doh!" now too. I wonder where he picked that up? ;)

Just Another Cheesehead

Here is another card I made for my summer sister's final package. She is a fellow Packer fan, so I couldn't help but dust off some of my Packer stamps! The idea here, in case you can't tell, is to have Riley on a simulated football field. Looking at it, I feel like it's missing something, but I still think it's cute overall, don't you? I'm particularly happy with my moose-shading on this one, too.

Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

It's another short post day, but before I go I just want to give a heads up and let you know that I'm going to be cutting back on my blogging a bit. As you know, I've gotten into the habit of creating and posting every day, and that has to stop. Why? Well, honestly, because now my fall shows are on and I need time to watch them. LOL. There's only so much free time in the day, you know!

I'm still hoping to blog at least every other day, with some back-to-back days thrown in, just don't be surprised if you see a few more days like yesterday. The good news though, is that my dvr is down to 28% capacity, and my house hasn't been cleaner in MONTHS! :o) It's amazing what a few days off can do for you (I say a few, because the last two cards you've seen were made a week or two ago).

Enjoy the day,

Goodbye Zoo!

I just wanted to share a quick Smilebox of our last day at the zoo. The photos were actually taken over two separate trips - one with Jack, one without. We only go on the rides when we are without Jack. And it was an overcast day, so the pictures are a little dark. Sorry. I could have brightened them in photoshop, but there were a lot and I was feeling overwhelmed. They still are ok though, so don't worry! :)

I'll have another post in a day or two with some videos as well.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A Little Glitter

Just a quick post today. I wanted to share this fun card I made for my summer sister, Lorie. I love glitter, and love how sparkly this card is. To make one yourself, cut your white paper a little longer than you'll need it for your card, and then stamp the entire piece in a design of your choice, though a floral design seems to work best. Color your images, and run it through your crimper. Once a piece of paper is crimped, it will have a series of hills and valleys on it. Apply a line of glue to all of the "hills", and then sprinkle with glitter (I use Stampin' Up!'s Dazzling Diamonds). Then attach to card. I thought about doing a tutorial for this, but it seems pretty straight forward, no?

This should be titled "Secret Sister Card". I got the idea originally from the secret sister I had AGES ago on SCS - she sent a beautiful card to me using this design. Then I made this one for my SCS secret sister in the spring of 2007, and now am making one for another sister, though not a secret one this time! :o)

Oh, and how do you like that new Challenge Chick blinkie on my sidebar? I made that! Courtney asked me to make something for everyone to display, and that's what I came up with. How fun is that little chick?!

Anyhow, let me know if you have any questions and I'll answer them individually or on tomorrow's blog post.

Have a great day!

Happy Fall

Here is another thank you card I've worked up to send out at Thanksgiving. This is the first time I've inked this Riley, and I have to say I love him! I just love fall, and cooler weather and everything about it. The smell of the fallen leaves, you name it, I love it. This card puts me in my happy place. :o)

I've used this layout before, but only recently saw the idea to put the little clippy on there to hold it closed. What a clever idea that is! I apologize, I don't remember what blog or card I saw the idea on. It was just one of those little things you file away to use later, you know? And the sentiment is handwritten again.

Here's the inside of the card:

I haven't done it yet, but I figure I will add a smallish rectangle of white paper layered on riding hood red on the far left side of the inner part of the card.

I think it turned out super cute, what do you think?

In other news, the season premiere of Pushing Daisies is on tonight. I love, love, LOVE that show! I can't wait! If you're really curious, I have links to all of my favorite shows near the bottom of my sidebar. I love me some tv. :o)

AND, I just saw a new blog post from my friend Mandy over at Limelight Papercrafts saying she's recruiting for a new design team! And get this... the six gals chosen will be called the Six Chicks. :o) Have you ever seen 13 Going On 30? I have... going on 30 times. It's one of my favorite movies EVER. Jennifer Garner had me at hello on Alias, and I haven't turned back yet. I need to get me one of those positions!! I want to be Tom-Tom, and wear purple acid wash denim. hee heeeeeee. I LOVE IT!

Details:
Stamps: Pumpkin Patch Riley (Hanna Stamps), Baroque Motifs (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Adirondak Pitch Black, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Basic Grey Deciduous DP
Other: Buttons (The Paper Studio), Copic Markers, Clippy Thing ;o), Tarnished Brad