His inner child

Todays layouts are all about Andy, and his inner child. The first layout is one I had a ton of fun with because it was all about Star Wars toys. Andy is a mega fan and everbody knows it. This past Christmas, my Mom and Dad sent gifts by mail and "hoped" we'd like them. Boy did we ever! The talking yoda, Star Wars cookie cutters, and Star Wars apron were the perfect gifts for my hubby. I'll show the layout, which was done with Snips and Snails Child at Heart (find it here at Scrap Matters in Stephanne's guest store), and then a photo or two of the cookies we made with the awesome cookie cutters (Williams Sonoma maybe?). After that, I'll show another layout created with another SNS kit, Nature's Delight. This layout includes a photo of baby Andy all dressed up and playing in the dirt. Super cute, don't you think? Find Nature's Delight here at Gingerscraps (another guest spot).

Argh mate, and a recipe for pork roast with apples and cabbage

With my hubby out of town and me on a cleaning streak (fun, right?), I decided to make myself a "nice" dinner last night. Pork roast sounded delish so I looked for a recipe in a few of my 'barely-used' cookbooks. I found a recipe for a bone-in roast with a choice of sauces in Cooks Illustrated. Here's a little secret about me: I rarely (if ever) follow a recipe exactly. Can't say exactly why, but I find myself consistently failing to measure exact quantities, leaving things out if I don't think they are required, and substituting ingredients. In this case, the instructions for bone-in roast looked un-fun so I bought a boneless roast, wrapped it in bacon, bathed it in apple juice and put it in the oven. For the sauce, I more closely followed the recipe, but still made some swaps. Here is what I did:

1. Season 2.5lb roast with salt and pepper

2. Wrap roast in uncooked bacon until covered over

3. Place roast into a square glass baking dish and pour apple juice (I used martinellis brand) into the dish (about 1/2 in deep) over the roast

4. Bake at 350F until thermometer reads 140 (I shut off and left in oven after 135 for about 15 minutes)

5. Peel and chop 1 green apple

6. Slice 1/2 head small cabbage

7. Chop 1/2 yellow onion

8. In a saucepan, heat 1T butter and saute apple with onion until medium soft

9. Add cabbage and 1/2C chicken broth; season with salt and pepper

10. Pour juice from roast pan (about 1/2 to 3/4C) into pan, and add 3T whisky (or brandy, I used whiskey)

11. Heat over medium high heat, covered, until liquid is reduced and cabbage is soft

12. Add 1/4 cup heavy cream, stir and heat until warm

13. Slice roast and serve with apple-cabbage gravy and a glass of chardonnay (that's what I did anyway!)

 

This turned out to be fantastic and very easy to make. If you're ever in the mood for a pork roast, give this one a try!  Hubs will be having leftovers when he gets home tonight!

 

I've got two new layouts to share, done with Digilicious Designs' YoHo collection. Funny enough, after V-day this year, I searched theStudio for a pirate themed kit to make a page with. I didn't find one then, but lo and behold, here comes YoHo from Christine the following week. I snagged it and made my page about blacklight pirate mini golf. The second page is also fun, displaying photos from our trip to Aitutaki last August. You can find YoHo here at theStudio.

 

 

Happy St. P's!

 

New kits, new layouts, and a dog in tee

A few days ago, my husband and I were heading upstairs to bed followed by our dog, who as usual, hopped up onto the bed spreading out onto all of our many pillows. My husband, silly guy that he is, decided it would be super funny to try his t-shirt on our sweet collie dog. He took his yellow 42 Think Geek shirt and put it over Sophie's head, pulling her paws through the armholes. I protested of course: "no honey, Sophie doesn't like it." But he ignored my pleas and did it anyway. It was SO hilarious! Sophie with her collie mane looked like a little school pupil sitting our our bed with a dog's head. If you're trying to imagine how this all looked, I'll help you out. The following day, just after I arrived at work, a text message from my husband "hello from Blue." Here was the photo that accompanied that message:

So cute, right?! Well anyway, that's my story for the day. Best move on to share some layouts that I've been meaning to post for some time!

First up, 2 wedding layouts using a delightfully cheery kit from ScrappyCocoa called 'What a Wonderful World.' Find it here at theStudio.

Here's a layout about Blue that I did using Ultimate You from Cluster Queen Creations (Gold Member kit at DST for January)

Isn't Bluey cute? He's such a handsome boy!

Next up, another wedding layout using Warm Hearts from Snips and Snails and Digilicious Designs. You can find it here at theStudio. The lyrics on this layout are very special to me and to my Mom. I made this layout for her.

Here are two layouts done with ADB Designs' First Love collection, also using wedding photos. Find First Love here at theStudio. I also used a template for this one from Keystone Scraps' Sensational Scraps volume 1.

My next two layouts I did with a template set from Janet B Designs' Big Photo Templates, which you can find here at theStudio. I used the Woodland Winter collection from A-Manda Creation. I especially love the Yellowstone layout - beautiful photos, aren't they? P.S. the first photo was our Christmas photo from last year; it was taken in our neighborhood park.

Ok, last one. This final layout I did using a collab from Studio Rosey Posey at SBG called Life Is a Journey. Find it here. The photos (Facebook quality since I didn't have access to my full photo set when I made the layout) are from our trip to NY in 2010.

Well, that's it for today. Hopefully I won't have to play such major catch-up in the future, i.e. maybe I can keep on top of my blog for a change?! Lol. I'll do my best!

Spread more cheer, the babushka, and chilly weather fun together

Whew, let's get caught up on a few things, shall we? First up, I've created a second layout using Aimee Harrison's Sparkle On collection. Wanna see?

Not to worry, I know about the spelling error. I've gotta pull up my original file and fix it, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I love how this one came out though, especially with the glitter styles. I hardly ever use styles, but here I think they worked really well!

Next, I've done another layout using Harvest and Hayrides from Digilicious Designs (check out the first one here). I have a digiscrap friend whose photos always match the kit she's used and her layouts are gorgeous (check out Donna's gallery here). For this layout, I wanted my photo to match the kit like Donna's photos do, so I chose a photo that I felt would go well with the denim look of this kit. The photo is of my sweet Sophie dog wearing a babushka. In case you're wondering on my usage of the term, I looked up babushka on the internet, and it turns out that babushka, which is a russian grandmother or elder woman, can also be used to describe the look of a babushka, i.e. the scarf tied under the chin. I captured this photo last year sometime when Andy, ever the jokester, tied bandanas around Sophie and Blue. He got Sophie's up on her head and before pulling down, said "look!" and I said "oh, a babushka!" We both laughed and I had to snap the photo.

PS, I used a template for this one from Ponytail Designs' A Stitch in Time (find it at Stuff to Scrap).

Finally, I have two more layouts to share with you, both made with Studio4 Designworks' Day Off at the North Pole. Find it at theStudio.

Spread the cheer!

Hello again. Seems I'm off to a bit of a slow start this new year, but I did manage to eek a layout out this weekend. I was supposed to be cleaning but decided to lay on my bed and scrap a page instead, hee hee.

For this Christmas layout, I used a new kit from Aimee Harrison Design Studios called Sparkle On. I thought the colors were a perfect compliment for my Christmas decoration photos. Although I only had time to scrap one page, I figure a little switcheroo (i.e. moving the boxes around with the same papers and elements) will make for an easy page 2. Here is my layout, and the preview for Sparkle On which can be found in Aimee's shop at theStudio (just click on the preview to be redirected). Thanks for stopping by!

First layout of the new year, and a non-resolution

It's 2013 and although I dare not set resolutions for myself (life has a way of overtaking everything I do it seems), I do hope/intend/want to get back to creating layouts and being crafty. Somewhere along the way in 2012, I stopped doing that (or at least slowed waaaaay down) and as you my scrappy friends know, creating layouts and crafting crafts is a real boost to a gals mental well being. Having a creative outlet is something I value a lot and I don't want that to get lost again this year. 2012 saw me get married, take an absolutely whimsical honeymoon to the South Pacific, adopt a beautiful dog, Blue, celebrate birthdays, mourn losses, and so much more. There are plenty of pictures and stories to tell and preserve and I don't want to lose them to crazy overwhelming lazy boo hooiness. So while I don't resolve, I do hope that 2013 will bring many more layouts and cards and calendars and crafts and all things creative and fun back to life for me. And I hope the same for you!

To start it off right, here's a brand new layout I did tonight. I used Harvest and Hayrides from Christine of Digilicious Designs. You can find the entire collection at theStudio (just click on the preview). I also used a template from Keystone Scraps Sensational Vol 1. Hope you like it, and happy 2013!

Advent calendar at theStudio, and Dear Santa Paws

Have you been collecting goodies from theStudio's advent calendar this year? Each day you can download a little freebie from one of theStudio's designers. Today, Karen of Snickerdoodle Designs has a cute little mini for you. Check it out here, or just click on the preview below.

 

 

If you follow Rosey Posey's designs, you may be aware that she has an adorable pet Christmas themed kit up for grabs. Check it out here on Tell My Tails, and while you're there, read the note my Sophie dog wrote to Santa Paws!