New Post at Paper Pals

Instead of duplicating posts w/ the hybrid pages I'm making for my LSS, Paper Pals, I think I'll just let you know here on my blog when I've added a new post to the Paper Pals Design Team blog right HERE. This time I posted a Pumpkin Patch layout. So check it out if you're interested in seeing what I'm creating!

"Big Boy" Room...

We've been making gradual changes to my little guy's bedroom as he's transitioned from a nursery to a "big boy" bedroom, and the most recent was the completion of wooden letters on the wall.

I'd seen ribbon hanging so many of these things to a wall, but there was simply no ribbon to be found that matched my son's personality. SO-- to the hardware store and dollar store I went! I bought some links of chain and two dollar store race cars with cool wheels (bummer... 5-letter name required TWO cars...) and this is what I came up with:


The best part...

Not even one whole hour after I was finished and Grant was playing with a three-wheeled car, he decided to "fix" the car. Next time I find him he's pulled a dining room chair onto his full size bed, crawled up on it and pulled one of the wheels off the wall to re-attach to the car. Seriously, I'm surprised we didn't have an emergency room visit with that stunt.

Then today, he continued to prove that he's ALL BOY. I had the van in the driveway, windows open but doors locked. Grant likes to play inside the vehicle WAY TOO MUCH to risk leaving doors unlocked. When I noticed the quiet (and all Moms know there's trouble then!), I checked on him... but all I saw was his red wagon next to the van. Pretty soon I heard him, and realized he was inside the van... but the doors were still locked! Then I thought like an almost three year old BOY thinks... and discovered that a little red wagon was in just the right height and position to allow one to crawl in through the open window of a van!

Clever, he is. In trouble, I am.

Wowzaa!

That's one word for it.

I'm flattered. Humbled. Amazed. And REALLY excited!

On a whim (and after some really great encouragement from the store manager... Thanks, Shawna!) I decided to submit my scrapbook design work to my LSS, Paper Pals.

And officially today,I was introduced as a new member on their Design Team! I have 6 months to use their products to CREATE, PLAY, ENJOY, and (a little nervous about this one) DISPLAY my work at their store. Wowzaa. Did I already say that?

So, keep your eye out for more stuff from me on my blog plus on the Paper Pals Design Team Blog. And you'll also have the chance to see the talented work of other local women on design team with me who are designing some crazy cool things.

Woo hoo!

To Pay or Not to Pay...

That is the question.

Tomorrow is school portrait day. Eck.

For a mom who's constantly shooting my kids (photos of them, that is...), I have a hard time wanting to spend money on the traditional school photo. Tomorrow's photo shoot will consist of 5 or 10 seconds spent with my child (times two because both of my girls are at school now)to capture a "genuine" smile. They'll be herded like little calves and given as much personal attention as a calf being branded.

Okay, so that's a bit morbid, but really... do the photographers have any interest in the internal workings and true personalities of my beautiful girls? Not really. And I guess I wouldn't either if I had the job of photographing hundreds of kids every day (against some NASTY lookin' backgrounds!?! Seriously. Let's upgrade from 1985.).

As a mom, I most cherish the photos that show more of my children than just a forced toothy grin. (And I found one of these classic photos of me when I was about 5 years old that I figured would be fun to share. Yep. I used to be blonde. And do you just love the little gingham dress I'm wearing? My mom made it... the talented woman. And my sister had one to match, too!)

But because the grandparents have photo frames ready and I rarely order actual candid prints anymore (they mostly remain as digital files on my computer), I think I'll shell out the bucks to get some prints to pass to family. And I confess, they're framed here at my house too. But over the years I've come to realize that most my money at formal portrait studios is wasted. And my exploration with my own point and shoot is really where the magic happens.

Say Cheese!

Pie and Pals

Mmmmm... gotta share!

My great Aunt Betty of New Zealand once made this pie for me, and I just had to have the recipe. The combination of pears, sour cream and almond extract (oh, and some sugar and butter too...) create one of my favorite flavors in a fruit pie. Here's the recipe-- try it sometime!

Creamy Pear Pie
From Aunt Betty in New Zealand

Mix together:
3-4 lg. pears (Bartlett good), peeled and diced
1/3 c. sugar
2 T flour or tapioca
1 egg slightly beaten
Add and place in unbaked pie crust:
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
¼ c. flour
2 T. melted butter
½ tsp. almond extract
On top place mixture of:
2 T. brown sugar
¼ c. flour
2 T. melted butter
Bake 400 degrees for 10 minutes, lower heat to 350
for 45 minutes more.

And, since I was at risk of eating the whole pie myself, I decided to share it with my dinner guests. We had the pleasure of hosting friends from "way back"... Katie K (my GPB sorority pledge sister and birthday-sharing buddy)with her husband Mike and their adorable kiddos Lauren and Will... and Angela H (best friend ALL through elementary and secondary school years) with her hubby Mathew and sweet chillins Jacob and Chesney. They'd all been at the UI football game (Go Vandals!) and made time to come hang out with us and share a meal. Ah... fun times and great pie!