I finished this page today...

After swimming a couple times this afternoon and taking more pics in the pool, I decided I should scrap some of the ones I already have. So here's a page I finished today....

Woo Woo! I completed a challenge today...

Here's a LO I made for Geri's Challenge...



I love this Freebie Kit from Monica Evan, Thank You!

Wordless Wednesday

Oh yeah, remember my weekend craft?

We were supposed to make dog treats. And we did just that, but I forgot to share the outcome. So here they are (not much to look at)...



I made my own oat flower by pulverizing some quick oats in my mini food processor. Then I added banana baby food to the ones that look like lumps and mashed up sweet potatoes to the ones that look like flowers. I baked them on a lightly greased cookie sheet at 375 for 10 to 15 minutes. Voila! Dog treats!

Sure they seem bland, but my English Bulldog, Rocky, has a food allergy and cannot eat anything (it seems like there is nothing he can eat). So, these are totally friendly to him, plus my newest babe, Ruby the Doberman, seems to love them as well. See....

Are women the only ones striving to be better?

A cat's sneeze started this contemplation for me today. Yes, really, a cat sneezing. I don't even have a cat, so go here if you want to know what that is all about. Anyway, that post led me to browse Julie's Blog and read her "About Me" section, thus pondering the subject's question.

So, onto the question...As I was reading Julie's "About Me", I was thinking...wow I feel the same way. I am about to turn thirty and realize my life is a constant change, a strive for improvement.

I continue to discover myself and work on those things that are not so pleasing about me. My days are spent trying to understand a 3.5 year old boy and find ways to raise him well, treat him well, and not lose my patience with him. My marriage is a constant work in progress, we are always faced with new challenges.

Each day I strive to be better, a better me, a better mom, a better wife, a better person in general.

It seems common for women to feel this way and be open about expressing that, just like Julie does on her blog. However, I wonder if men are striving to be better as well.

Do they think these same sort of thoughts? Do they want to improve their relationship skills, their parenting skills, do they want to try harder at picking their socks up off the floor?

I have to say, I don't think so. Not on a grand scale like women. I think there are a few aspects of some men's lives that they would like to improve. Sure they want to nap more, have more tv time, make better money, try to be home with the family more, but I doubt the majority of them think about improving their lives in the ways we ladies do.

Sorry guys, I do think you are intelligent and work hard and try to be good people, don't get me wrong. However, I think you strive for totally different things than women. I also think women have this internal system that continually grades themselves. We are constantly doubting ourselves and our efforts, checking to see if we get a passing grade. More often than not, we wish we could get a better report card.

Ladies, what do you think?
Any guys out there wanna let me into their mind on this one?

This might be my next read...

My son is pirate obsessed. This might help me understand the little guy.

Guide To Pirate Parenting by Tim Bete

If you're like most parents, you long to raise your children as pirates but just don't know how. In "Guide to Pirate Parenting," Cap'n Billy "The Butcher" MacDougall provides everything you need to know to turn your little powder monkeys into happy, healthy buccaneers. In Guide to Pirate Parenting you'll learn: . Ten benefits of raising a pirate . At what age your child should be able to remove a bottle cap by taking out his glass eye and using his eye socket as an opener . Which offense requires administering The Flying Dutchman Wedgie . How to prevent sogging the quartermaster . The best place to maroon your disobedient child . How to remove chewing gum or a giant octopus from your child's hair . The difference between plundering and pillaging . How to convert your minivan into a pirate schooner . When to smack your teenager in the side of the head with an oar Each information-packed section ends with "Your pirate's progress," a short quiz that shows whether your child is reaching his or her pirate development milestones.

I love a good HVAC man...

Anyone who knows me knows I am always hot. Yes I am chubby, but even before I got the chubs I was always warmer than most. Ever since giving birth though, my internal temp has been on the rise.

So you can imagine my unhappiness (read anger) when our central air unit died during a 4 day 90 degree heat wave. Yes I know, that is not that bad, there are people in Texas frying in over 100 degree heat day after day. However, for a simmering core Michigander like me that is a hot heat wave.

Anyway, we spent just less than 48 hours sweating it out, sleeping in separate beds, whining and crabbing at each other before our new unit was installed. And let me say, my what a big unit it is, and efficient! It should be called a GoodWoman instead of GoodMan...this baby blows!

~~As any true scrapper would, I made a page in honor of the new central air unit.

From My Friends At MomDot

“Hey BlogoSphere! MomDot is so excited about our launch! We had been working hard to get going for August 1st, but with all the amazing support of mom boutiques and mom bloggers, we are ready to get the Party Started! We want you to come every day starting on July 28th with the party ending on August 31st, including prizes daily and feature bloggers, just in time to bang out the end of summer and into the school year. Don’t forget to list your blog for free and connect with other mommies on our forum!”


Here's one of the neato contests they are running this week...
http://www.momdot.com/?p=434

It's a Mabel Labels Just In Time For School Contest....
Mabel Labels has gifted us with some amazing Back To School packs that consist of 40 Skinny-Minis™, 50 Tag-Mates™, 16 Shoe Labels, and 2 Bag Tags worth $39. These are going to be great for two lucky moms that need to get thier kids all ready for August or September school (we know you cant wait for that free time).

The Fine Art of Family...

MomDot is running an awesome contest for a necklace from The Fine Art of Family. Their stuff is amazing! I took a cruise around their site and found at least 5 things I wanted for myself. So pretty!

Puppy Scrapbook Pages...

I finished these two pages about Ruby last night...

Weekend Craft...

We are going to made dog treats this weekend. I don't have a recipe to post just yet, we are gonna make it up as we go. We'll let you know how they turn out and if our new pup loves them or not.

Beer? Butt? What?!

Yep, that's right, Beer Butt Chicken was on the menu for dinner tonight. We love it and haven't had it in quite some time. So, I preheated the grill and got my little chicken out of the fridge. You start with one regular roaster chick.
Salt and pepper to taste. Around here, the more pepper the better. Pour out half a can of beer, or drink it if you're a beer drinker. Add some minced garlic into the can, again the more the better at my house.

Then place the can into the fancy beer butt chicken stand and slide it up into your chick's rear, gently now she's still a lady.

If you don't have a fancy beer butt chicken stand (can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond) then just slide the can into the chicken and do your best to balance it on the can and ends of the legs in a metal pie plate.

Even with the stand you need a pie plate underneath.



Once that's done, you are ready to grill. You want indirect heat, so turn on the burner on one side and put the chick on the other. I like my grill to be at around 500 degrees, even at that temp, it is gonna take almost 2 hours or until you reach an internal temp of 190 degrees and the legs are easy to pull off your chick.

Be careful taking your chick off the beer can and/or stand, everything is really hot, including the beer inside the can which can splash you. Let her rest for a few before carving her up.

Then enjoy!

I have a new love...

Her name is warm and gooey tuna melt. Ok, so if you know me at all, you know I do not do mayo, not on anything, not ever, no way, no how. That being said, I have never had a tuna melt or a real love of tuna cause without mayo it is just tuna-ey. Anyway, I decided to give it a try and made it my usual way with lemon juice, salt and peper, hold the veggies for the sake of the sandwich and add some American cheese and grill.

Oh my! This was delicious. So warm and melty, just perfect.

I paired it with some Mrs. Grass Extra Noodle with added Alphabet Noodles (for the little guy of course).

Lunch perfection!

Almost finished...

I have been working on a paper bag album for my husband's cousin and her baby Emma. I finished up the pages last night. However, I have a bunch of the pictures that will go into this album, so I need to get those printed and add them in. Here's a preview of the pages without the pics....

Perfect way to end the day...

After a quick rain storm, a rainbow appeared. Please excuse the power lines in the view, I'm a total city girl.

One of our favorite activities...

Baking! I love it and so does my son. He enjoys pouring, mixing and of course tasting the goodies. Today we heated the oven, despite the summer temps (thanks to our new centrail air which kicks butt), and whipped up a batch of the 'ole chocolate chip. Who doesn't love a warm fresh-from-the-oven cookie? We sure do.

Monday Reveal...

I know it's quite late in the day, but here's the reveal of my Weekend Craft...

Initially I was excited about this project because you could recycle old newspapers (of which I have plenty in my recycling bin). However, when I hit the craft room and gave it a try, I did not like the newsprint look.

Instead I used a white backing and two sheets of Cosmo Cricket paper from the Dutch Girl Line (Audrey and Eva were used). I alternated the sides since they are double sided papers and really liked the way they worked together.

I used a roll of brown craft paper as my overlay sheet and cut out a clover like shape to coordinate with my patterned papers. I'm not 100% sold on this shape yet, but it may grow on me over time. Either way, it is hanging in my hallway for all to see. Gotta own your stuff, right? Good and maybe not so good.

It was a fun idea and I enjoyed trying it out.

Sunday Shortcut...

Each week I plan to post a shortcut I have used, whether it was with cooking, crafting, parenting or whatever. I think life is short and while there is time to make cake from scratch and sew your own pillows, sometimes you need a little shortcut to help you get the job done in a hurry.

This week's shortcut is something my husband and I both love, it is warm, saucy, delicious and only takes 9 minutes to make...


That's right, Bertolli Mediterranean Frozen Dinner. We love this one with rigatoni, chicken, broccoli and peppers. The sauce is garlicy, but not too much. This goes well with a salad and some bread. There is plenty in the bag to make a meal for two, which is fine cause my little guy would not eat this anyway (he's far too picky at times).

~~Bonus~~If you click the link above, their site offers a $2.00 coupon. You cannot beat a meal for two for $6 (normally $8 without the coupon).

Thank you...

I would like to post a big THANKS to my friend Toni (http://www.juststopscreaming.com/) for sending me the code to post my button. I made my own button, but had no idea how to get it over there -------> with the code for readers to grab it.

Thanks Toni You Rock!

Totally out of character for me...

However, this song speaks to me today. Thought I would share what my heart is jamming to this afternoon.

Weekend Craft...

TGIF! This week has been long, I am so glad it is Friday. Each Friday I plan to post an idea/instructions/recipe for a project I plan to take on over the weekend.

Here's my first "Weekend Craft"...

One of my most recent "crafts"...

I made this arrangement for our main bathroom. It sits on the counter between the two sinks. I bought the silver container years ago, so long ago I cannot remember what I had originally intended to use it for. I think it looks great like this though.

I would love to learn more about flower arranging and incorporate them into my home decor more. I will have to remember to look into that this winter when there is nothing else to do with my time stuck indoors.

Brooklyn Mini Album...

I thought I would kick of this blog by sharing one of my favorite projects....a mini paperbag album. This is literally made with brown paper lunch bags, so quick and easy.

I made this album for our friends after their baby was born. They were using the nickname "peanut" for her, so I knew I wanted to incorporate that somehow. It took me quite some time, but I figured out how to draw my own peanut and stamped on some texture.