Recipe Thursday & an award

Hello all, & happy day-before-Good-Friday!! Some of you are starting Spring Break tomorrow, you lucky ducks! We usually have ours the week after Easter, like everyone else, but for some reason they scheduled ours a week earlier this year. We've been off this week...which has been nice....but we get gypped a day, since we already have tomorrow off!! No fair!!

I'm hard at work on my challenge card for Sunday's High Hopes challenge, but thought I'd take a break & post a recipe! I did miss last week, due to sickness, & I'm sure your week just isn't complete without a recipe from me!!

Today's recipe is for the best Taco Dip in the world!! I've tried many many different recipes, but when I found this one about 15 years ago, well I just about died & went to dip heaven. It's soooo easy but it's soooo good!! Must be the combo sour cream/cream cheese. I seem to use a lot of cream cheese. No wonder I'm seeing a cardiologist on Monday!!

TACO DIP

1 16 oz carton sour cream
1 8 oz carton cream cheese
taco seasoning
lettuce
tomato
olives
cheese
onions

Mix 3/4 container of sour cream & whole container of cream cheese. Mix seasoning in, spread in pan (I usually use a 10 x 15 baking sheet....the kind with the sides...depends on how thinly you want to spread the dip). Top with lettuce, tomato, olives, cheese & onion.


That's it!! Isn't that easy?? But trust me it's soooo good. It's been quite a while since I've made this, but I'm pretty sure the more I made it, the more cream cheese I added, lol. So I probably use about a container & a half, but it all depends on what you like. I use my mixer to mix the sour cream & cream cheese....I use to mix it by hand but found I couldn't get the cream cheese to mix smoothly enough. And I always make the base, stick it in the fridge, then add the toppings just before I serve it. A great appetizer for Easter Sunday!!!!

I also was blessed with an award!! Gvendalen at Ocean of Imaginations passed on this beautiful award to me!! Thanks so much Gvendalen!! You made my day!! Be sure to check out her blog....you may not be able to read it (she's Russian!!!) but you can gaze at her gorgeous artwork!!





Thanks so much for checking in, & I hope you have something fun planned for Good Friday!!! We are going mattress shopping!! Woohoooo!! LOL....ok....probably not as fun as say....going to the Brewers home opener.....but our 10 year old needs a new mattress, so a new mattress he shall get!!

High Hopes challenge #20

Good Sunday morning to ya!! I hope you have a fun day planned. I am going with my boys to see a high school production of 'The Wizard of Oz'. I have to admit it's not one of my favorite movies......it's always kinda freaked me out....especially those flying monkeys....but it is supposed to be a GRAND production, & we are going with our Cub Scout den. All part of earning those badges....what's a mom to do, lol.

Today's challenge on the High Hopes blog is Getting That Fuzzy Feeling. You can use anything fuzzy on your card, & I sure hope QTip cotton qualifies as fuzzy, cuz that's what I used!!



For my card I used the recently released, way-too-adorable Bunny Blooms. I used my Prismas & gamsol to color....& attached the cotton onto his tail using Crystal Effects. I've had this piece of Cosmo Cricket paper FOREVER....but I never picked up any coordinating pieces...so I've held off using it until now. The bunny is a bit bigger, so I really only needed the one piece of dp. The sage-y green paper is the reverse side. I didn't add much to this card.....a few little lines of paper in the 2 corners, & a Prima & punched flowers, along with some branches in another corner. Voila ~~ a fun fuzzy card :)



Be sure to check out the High Hopes blog to see what the other Divas created! As always, if you play along be sure to link your card to the comments on THIS POST so you can be entered in the drawing to win some goodies!

My new blogging friend Paula passed on this adorable award to me the other day. I met her through our brand new Creatively Cute blogger group. Be sure to check out her blog HERE. Thanks so much, Paula, I so appreciate it!!!!



Also, I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up to this award from Tania this morning. Thank you so much, Tania...you really made my Sunday morning!!!



Well I hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend....& hey!! It's March 1st!! Goodbye February, hello spring!! Well ok, it's usually still pretty icky weather wise around here in March. But we are that much closer to nice weather, right??

POTM reminder, & an award!

Good Thursday morning, all!! I don't know how many times today I've typed "Wednesday"....apparently I *don't* want the weekend to come?? That doesn't sound right....

This is just a quick post to remind you all of the Project of the Month stamps you can purchase at High Hopes during the month of January! HERE is the link to the High Hopes page where you can see all the stamps that, when purchased together, are 25% off the regular price!! Here is the card I made with the set, which I posted a couple of weeks ago. The set includes the tooth fairy, the sentiment, the tooth, the floss, & the toothbrush.





And HERE'S a link to the reminder on the High Hopes blog, so you can see the other Divas creations!!


I also have a few people to thank for giving me this beautiful butterfly award:


Amy, Chris, & Lisa all thought my blog was deserving of this award, & they will never know how much that means to me!! They have terrific blogs as well, so be sure to click on their names so you can check them out!! I am to nominate 10 blogs which I think are deserving......& I'm sure they all already received this award but I'm sending it to them anyway, lol!!! Here they are, in no particular order......

Tori

Trina

Tammi

Denise

Sirpaliina

Moni

Judy

Cheryl

Bev

Katarina

These ladies are all fabulously talented, so grab a cup of coffee & a snack, because you'll be hanging out a while!! Thanks again to the ladies who gave me this award, all 3 of you ROCK!!!!

Well that's it for today....no new card....I'm working on my challenge card for Sunday, but other than that I don't seem to be getting too much else done. Tomorrow is an early day at school, so while I won't be working, my kids will be home by noon. I'll have to work fast!! LOL!!

Have a great day!!

A sketch challenge, & an award!

Hello, & happy Wednesday!! The weather is very frightful here in Wisconsin, frigid cold & what a surprise ~ it's snowing. I thought they might close schools today, but I think they are saving that for tomorrow, when the wind chills will be a balmy -20 to -30. Gosh I love winter!

I haven't participated in a challenge on SCS in a while, so I checked out today's sketch challenge. It's a fun one, & I had a hard time deciding which stamp to use. I've gotten so many High Hopes stamps lately & haven't had much time to play!



I finally decided on Albert's gift, a recent release. Isn't he adorable? This image would be perfect for a birthday card, anniversary card, or a get well card. I colored Albert with my trusty Prismas & gamsol, & added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to his wings & the flower centers. The patterned papers are from the Basic Grey Boxer collection, & the dark green is from the DCWV Christmas pack. I added Primas instead of the stars (Rox said we could!!! Really!!) & at the last minute I added the Dew Drops. I apologize for the cruddy picture, that's what happens when I'm in a rush!! I will try to take a better one later!



I don't have time to finish the inside right now because I have to get ready for work, but for me that is a must & I will do it later. I also can now decorate the backs of my cards, because I bought some fun "created by" stamps on Ebay. I will show you those another day :)

Finally, I received this award from Shirley. I'm always so honored when I receive an award!! Check out Shirley's blog HERE, she has some fun stuff!! I am to pass this on to other people, which I will also do another day. Thank you so much Shirley!!

Hope you all have a great day!!! Thanks for visiting :)

Give me strength....

...to get everything done that I need to! Argh!! Is Christmas really only 11 days away?? I swear I was *just* buying school supplies for my kids!! It was hot! We were wearing shorts! **sigh** whoever said "Time flies when you're having fun" lied ~~ it's more like "Time flies once you've reached middle age"!

Well, I did get a bit of time the other night to make this Christmas card:


This adorable skunk is named Tink & he's available HERE on the High Hopes site. I colored him with my usual Prismas & gamsol, added glitter to his hat & finished it with a sparkly poinsettia Prima in the corner. The papers are all from the Basic Grey Wassail pack (got LOTS of use out of that this season!!) & the layout is an older SCS sketch challenge. Not sure why I added the Dew Drops ~~ you can barely see them ~~ but that space needed something & nothing else was working for me!


I am definitely ready to move on from making Christmas cards. Although there are still many wonderful stamps I haven't had the time to use! Maybe I'll start my Christmas cards for next year in a few weeks, that way I'll be ahead & I'll get to use my uninked rubber!!

I received this wonderful award from Annie this weekend! Annie, thank you so much, I am honored!! You must go check out her blog, Ink N Rubba. I believe I am supposed to list 5 things I'm addicted to, then list 5 of my favorite blogs. I am going to need a few days for that, lol. I will post those sometime this week. Thanks for being patient with me!!


I hope you all have a fabulous Sunday. We are off to do some grocery shopping, which I'm not looking forward to since it IS Sunday, right before Christmas, the weather is yucky ~~ warmer, but gray & windy. I have so much to do I could cry. I only have half my shopping done. I still haven't baked even one batch of cookies. Our plans for Christmas are still up in the air so I could be having it here, or I may not be having it here. I'm pretty sure Christmas is on December 25th each year, so why am I never ready?

One more thing, I'm having a very hard time making a decision regarding a job. Yes, I do have a job subbing in the school district. The other job is also in the school district, at the main office. A LOT more hours ~~~ which is good & bad. MUCH better pay ~~ which of course is good. But a lot less freedom ~~ am I ready to give that up? Give up all my volunteering at the school?? Give up my free time (which I *will* have back once hubby goes back to work)?? A steady, bigger paycheck would be nice, especially in these economic times. But Michael is still only in kindergarten ~~ am I ready to work all day every day?? I'm not asking for an answer ~~~ I'm the only one that can figure that out. But please keep us in your thoughts & prayers as I try to make this huge decision that will not only affect me, but my kids as well!!! Thanks for your support & friendship!!

I'm such a cheater!

Yep, that's right, I have resorted to cheating. I am so behind on....well, *everything*, that I'm starting to cut corners. Does this Santa look familiar?? Maybe the papers? The layout? Well, that's because you've seen it before. I created a gift bag with this exact image HERE. I had made that bag for one of the High Hopes challenges, intending to use it for my son's teacher's gift. But.....I've decided to go another way with her gift. Which is good, because it meant I could steal the whole panel & plop it on a card. Yay!! Another card done. Gee, I hope the recipient doesn't mind a recycled card!!


All I added was a green layer (which is from the DCWV Christmas stack) & some red brads. Voila ~~ easiest card I ever made, lol! Even the inside is simple ~~ just a green layer & a white layer. I'm getting lazy!

The truth is, I've been working a LOT. Now, I'm not working anywhere near 40 hours, which is what a lot of you do. And I've said it before ~~ kudos to you!! But it's been hard working the hours I AM working, plus I volunteer in my son's class & the library at least once a week, plus trying to get Xmas shopping done, Xmas cards done, haven't even started baking yet, all the kid-related Xmas activities (Cub Scout Xmas party, Xmas concert, etc) plus my older son starts basketball this Saturday. It's been crazy. And with my sleep issues I just cannot stay up past 10:30. (Good news though ~ my sleep study is scheduled for January 2nd!!). And remember that my hubby has been home now for 5 weeks!! 5 looooonnnnngggggg weeks. He follows me around the house, complaining how bored he is. But if I ask him to do something like say......fold the laundry......he's suddenly too tired & goes to the couch & watches tv for the next 5 hours. **sigh**

So I've been running around like a chicken. Perhaps I should take a cue from my cat & relax a bit:


Clearly HE'S not worried if the Xmas shopping doesn't get done!! Here's a picture of both of them, hanging out together, probably talking about what a FREAK their momma is for running around so much. They're looking at me as if they're saying "Ma!! Sit!! Take a load off!!"

Did you ever see the movie ET ~~~ where ET is hiding in with all the stuffed animals so the mom doesn't see him?? That's what this picture reminds me of! They are under the kids tree in these pictures, surrounded by all of their plush friends, lol!

Last but not least, I received an award!!! Becky was kind enough to pass this award on to me the other day. She's so sweet, & has a great blog herself! Go check it out at Confessions of a 20-something Scrapbooking Mother. I think I'm supposed to pass this award on......if I have time later I will post some of my new favorite blogs that I haven't added to my blogroll yet. Thanks, Becky!!


Today it is quiet. Believe it or not, my hubby went up north to go ice fishing with his dad for a few days. Thank goodness. He's supposed to be home Sunday. I told him "What's the rush?" Subtle, no??? LOL!! Hey, I'd rather he be doing something he enjoys, like ice fishing, than sitting here watching tv all day. And he hasn't seen his dad all year, so this little trip is good for BOTH of us! With all the quiet, I'm hoping to get some cards made. I'm opening an Etsy shop so I want to work on that, plus I have GOT to get some High Hopes stuff done or I'll be fired!! LOL ~~ just kidding!! The HH team is the absolute best to be on ~~ no pressure at all & their motto is "family first".

OK, enough rambling from me ~~ if you've made it this far, I *heart* you!! I will be back later, hopefully with some brand-new, never before seen stuff. No more cheating!!

***UPDATE*** I got my Etsy shop up & running. There's not much in it right now, I just put some older, more simple cards in there for right now. I'd like to have a variety, from simple to elaborate. Just wanted to see how involved it is to list ~~ took me just minutes!! The link is in my sidebar :)

***ANOTHER UPDATE*** I just got a message on my voice mail from the sleep clinic. After reviewing the answers to the questions they asked, the dr decided I didn't meet the criteria for a sleep study! Um...what?? So waking every hour during the night is normal? Feeling drowsy from the minute I wake up until I go to bed is normal? What's frustrating is, I found the "test" they give on a medical website ~~ & what score I would have needed to qualify. I needed to score a 10, & I scored a 9. If only I'd found that test online sooner. A day late & a dollar short, as usual. **sigh**

A quick thanks & some fun news....

to Trina, for passing this sweet award on to me!! I appreciate it so much, thank you Trina!!!!!


I told you yesterday there was some exciting news coming with this next release from High Hopes, & I've been given the okay to spill ~~~~ High Hopes now has a blog!!!!!! This will be gathering place for all High Hopes lovers. All important info regarding High Hopes will be on this blog, plus we will post Projects of the Month AND we will be taking turns each Sunday issuing challenges in which we want all of you to take part!! It's an exciting new adventure for us!!! Hope you all join in!! HERE is the link to this fantastic new blog!!! Check it out ~~ but be sure to check again tomorrow, when the very first challenge will be posted!

Another fun award ~ I'm honored!

Look at the surprise I woke up to this morning!!!!!! An award!!!

This is from Kimberly over at SeaStar Creations ~~ she's got some fun stuff on her blog so go check it out!! Here are the rules of this award:

1. THE WINNER CAN PUT THE LOGO ON HER BLOG.
2. LINK THE PERSON YOU RECEIVED YOUR AWARD FROM.
3. NOMINATE AT LEAST 7 OTHER BLOGS.
4. PUT LINKS OF THOSE ON YOUR BLOGS.
5. LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE BLOGS OF THE GIRLS YOU HAVE NOMINATED.

Here are the 7 blogs I nominate:

Ila ~ Artfully Ila

Trina ~ Trina's Timeless Treasures

Kim ~ Paper in the Works

Inge ~ Patterned Paper

Amy ~ Pickled Paper Designs

Kim ~ Kraftin Kimmie's Korner

Niki ~ My Paper Creations

Of course, ALL the ladies on my blogroll are deserving of this award so check them all out when you get a chance!!!

I'll be back later, with LAST week's SCS sketch challenge!!! Better late than never!!!

Another award, & a sick hubby :(

Lucky me, I received another wonderful award!! Trina at Trina's Timeless Treasures gave this to me & I'm so honored!!!! Thank you, Trina!!


I think I'm supposed to hand this award to some other bloggers, but at the moment I'm thinking only about my husband. As I write this, I'm waiting for him to say "Take me to the ER". He has a host of health problems, including reflux so severe it often makes him throw up. He hasn't been feeling well for 2 weeks ~~ not eating, throwing up what he does eat, & having terrible pains in his chest & sides. I've begged him to go to a doctor. He doesn't have one, he never ever goes, so I've begged him to go to mine. He is SUCH a man ~~ he simply won't go. Well, now he's lying on the couch, doubled over in pain, telling me it's getting worse. I've researched his symptoms, & am very aware of all the horrible things this could be. I've shared with him what I think it is, hoping to scare him into going to see the doctor. Of course he couldn't just go during the week, like I asked him to. Now we will probably be going to the ER. I foresee a long night ahead of us!!! Please keep my hubby in your thoughts tonight!!!!

**sniff** My first award!!!!!

Ila over at Artfully Ila gave me an award!!! How cool is that?? I am so completely honored ~~ she tells me *I* inspire *her*. I cannot even tell you all how inspiring SHE is to ME!!!! Her coloring is absolutely over-the-top fabulous, her layouts are primo, she always uses just the right amount of embellishments & she's a good friend to boot!!! She's the one who helped me so much with this blog. So thank you Ila!!!

I don't have a long list of blogs on my sidebar, because I've only had this blog for a couple of weeks!! I'm sure my list will grow as time goes on because I'm inspired by so many. I'm not going to pick just one or two.......I love them all......so please run over & check them out, you will be inspired, too!!!