Creative Juices

We spent all day Sunday in the backyard. It was such a beautiful day and my yard definately needed some love! So we all (except Kolbi - she "doesn't like gardening") spent the day mowing, weeding, cleaning and planting. We have big garden plans this year. Last year we planted two tomato plants and wholy cow, at the end of the season this is what we were left with:So this year we are going to do an entire herb garden as well as zuchinni, pumpkin, lettuce, tomato, peppers and whatever else we can get in the ground! I've also started a little catnip for Steve - he loves that stuff. It was a lot of fun and now my yard is beautiful and BBQ ready!

Now, I just had to post a pic of this purse that I made a few weeks ago! I have a ton of purse patterns, I love the idea of making my own purses. This adorable cherry fabric had been bought about 6 months ago and promplty cut out into a purse pattern. That's where it stayed for 6 months. I randomly decided to complete it the other day (with a little help from Carol) and I'm soooo happy with the results! I've been carrying it around since. The green inside makes it!

And finally, my most recent creation. Thank you Angel and Tonia for the idea! I taught this class at Scrapadoodles last week and am selling kits for it like crazy. I especially love the paper. It's Basic Grey's Boxer line and sooo pretty. It's hanging in the scrap store for now but will eventually make a great addition to my kitchen wall! When I hang it up I want to trade the white paper on the side for a coat of chalk board paint - cute!

Little Boy Getting Big

Last week was a pretty big deal for us. We were all busy with lots of work and stuff to do. Early in the week I decided to take some time out to make Zuchinni Muffins. Everyone loves them and they are 'kind of' good for you so I thougt it would be a good snack to have around for the week. I was not surprised by Riley wanting to help because he often wants to crack an egg. I was surprised by how much he helped though! It's like over night he turned into a helpful and maybe responsible boy?! I was so impressed that I snapped these pics of him working on the muffins.

I registered Riley for kindergarten last week. Riley has been consistently against school for the last several months. I've been dreading having to start talking about school with him, expecting lots of tears and yelling. Someone in the school system must be a genius though because when I signed him up I was sent home with a packet of 'school supplies'. This packet peaked his interest. When Justin tried to talk to him about starting school Riley said he was not going to be going to school (as we expected). There was also some yelling and crying. Shortly after that Grandma started talking to Riley about the school he would be going to and that it had a library, lunchroom and playground. Wow, did that work! He said 'There's a library? I didn't know that!' By the time I got home that evening Riley was telling me all about how he would be going to school and that it would be so fun! Lots of work has been done on the school packet and everytime I see him coloring or cutting on a real school paper I have to stop and just breath so that I don't tear up! I am so proud of how he has changed his mind and is now excited about this. I'm so proud of Kolbi too because even though school is not her favorite place she has pitched in and talked it up to Riley so that he will be excited. Here's a pic of Riley working on one of his school papers and then one of Kindergarten Orientation with Lexi.

Yummy Monday Night Dinner

Wow, doesn't this look beautiful?! I can't take the credit, I only helped Carol finish it up on Monday night after I got home from work. It just turned out so good and it was quick so I thought I'd share the recipe!

Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Dilled Orzo

1 chicken (we used a package of thighs)

6 garlic cloves, smashed

2 lemons, quartered

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 Tbl. plus 1 tsp. olive oil

coarse salt & ground pepper

1 cup orzo (found in pasta aisle)

1/2 tsp. dried dill

-Preheat oven to 450. Set a large saucepan of water to boil.

-On a lagre rimmed bakin sheet, toss together chicken, garlic, lemons, oregano and 1 tsp oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast chicken, skin side up until golden and cooked through, 25-30 minutes.

-Meanwhile, generously salt boiling water. Add orzo, and cook until al dente; drain well, and return to saucepan. Add dill and 1 Tbl oil; season with salt and pepper and mix gently to combine.

-When orzo is ready place in serving dish. Set roasted chicken on top and drizzle with pan juices.

This recipe is courtesy of Martha Stewart Everyday Food and I totally recomend it! As you can see the presentation is beautiful so it will impress - lol!

Also, I went coupon shopping with Nichole last night and got a great deal. So good in fact that I had to post the pic. I got all this at Target for only $1.98. Woo Hoo :)

Great Weather & New Basic Grey... AHHHH

The Idaho weather was great this weekend. We enjoyed a visit from family and a little playing outside at Nichole's BBQ. I totally slacked on taking pics this is one of the 3 that I snapped. At least Nichole was on it... check out her blog if you are interested - lol.


It had been so chilly lately and warmed up nicely for this BBQ. Now, of course, it has gotten windy again and is going to be a much cooler week. I'm staying positive though because at least it's not 100 already!

Once again it was Scrap Nigh on Sat. I couldn't help myself and used all 3 of the new Basic Grey lines that I've been coveting. Here's the spoils of all my labor...


I might post each inside pic.. what do you think? This Archaic line is adorable.


Cupcake line - what else can I say... soooo cute! Also, it might be a record - these are pics of Riley's real b-day outing from last year... "gasp" scrapped before this years b-day!


Finally, I think this one is Sultry. This page finished off my b-day pages from last week. You really can find me sporting this Ace of Cakes apron everytime I'm in the kitchen.

I Like to Make Things

Here's some of the projects I completed this weekend..

a layout ... finally

this is the close up of the little envelope in the bottom right

to hang on my wall

Now, for a story.

Last Thursday Riley and I were hanging out at home. It was one of his favorite days when it's 'just us', everyone else is at work or school. We are just enjoying the day, doing some cleaning and cooking. Out of nowhere Riley, very excitedly says "Mom, I know, money does grow on trees". I was a little confused, we hadn't been talking about money at all and I have no idea why he just said that. So, typical mom style I just go "Oh, really?". Then he proceeds to explain to me that yes, money does grow on trees and he knows this because a comercial on the tv told him so. It was on the tv, so it's true. I have since figured out that the culprit is that damn Peachtree Lending comercial where they do say "money does grow on trees". I need to give them a call and ask them to explain to my 5 yr old that there are no money trees. I tried to tell Riley the whole 'not everything you see on tv is true' speach but he pretty much figures that since it was not a cartoon then it is probably true. Now every once in a while he will randomly say "I hope our trees grow money". In about a month when the leaves are on the trees again he's going to be one un-happy camper!

Paint a Shelf...Get Zen

I got inspired from Nicholes blog to decorate a shelf like she did her hutch. Since I don't have a super cool hutch that needs a re-do like she does I chose a shelf that has needed help for years. I forgot to take a specific before pic so I found one among my photos that will sort of do.

See it in the corner behind Kolbi? Needs help huh?

I painted it black and covered the back with some great scrapbook paper.

This is it's new purpose, to hold my mini books and albums that I make.

Also I've been spending some time browsing my favorite blogs. I was here when I came across

12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk

1. Do one thing at a time

2. Do it slowly and deliberately

3. Do it completely

4. Do less

5. Put space between things

6. Develop rituals

7. Designate time for certain things

8. Devote time to sitting

9. Smile and serve others

10. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation

11. Think about what is necessary

12. Live simply

I felt this was worth repeating... don't you?

A Clean Start...

It's amazing what a clean scrap room will do. Here's some pics of the clean and pretty organized area. The sewing area is still a little full but there's just so much sewing stuff to store!


I also was able to get some projects completed.


A dinosaur book that I put together as a kit for the scrapbook store.


Another kit for the scrapbook store, super cool puzzle pieces!

And finally, some very cool glittery letters I picked up this weekend...