Recipe layouts

Can you imagine my surprise when I got home from Nebraska and saw a wonderful package in the mail from my dear friend, Lynn? I could not wait to rip it open and see what was inside. What a sweetheart she was! We are always swapping recipes (it's all about the food, you know) and she send me some recipes in 9x9 format to put in my recipe album! Look at these fabulous layouts! I love getting presents in the mail and Lynn did not let me down!

Asian Honey BBQ ChickenCowboy CaviarWeight Watchers Guiltless BrowniesAnd I think my favorite one, Monster Cookies (look at that Cookie Monster on there)I even already have them in my recipe album. I can't wait to try them out!

Happy Scrappin'

Lincoln, Nebraska

Sorry, no posts since Thursday, but we were on the road. I went with my husband and our friends, Bill & Vicky, to Lincoln, Nebraska for an indoor NATPA tractor pull. Yes, we hauled their tractors that far for a pull. A couple of years ago my husband actually ran with their circuit and did all but 2 of their winter pulls. He had a lot of fun, but the closest one to us was almost 500 miles away, so he really only did that for one winter. Now the guys just go to one or two of them a year.

They pull indoors at the Lancaster County Event Center. The building they pulled in was newly constructed last year and it was huge. Here are just some of the tractors lined up in there the night before the pull.Here's Dale pulling his tractor. It was really a challenge for him to decide which tractor he wanted to bring down with him, as he has a few of them sitting here to choose from.We had a great time, as we always do with Bill & Vicky. It was about an 8 hour ride down there. On the way down, we stopped off in the little town of Elk Horn, Iowa for fuel. We stopped at a place called Steffeni's Good Eats to fuel our bodies, too. They had great food there and to top it all off, there were scrapbooking layouts posted on the wall that I had to check out. Our waitress, Steffeni's Mom (waving hello), created them. Great work on the layouts and the restaurant. If we are ever back in that neck of the woods, we will be stopping in again!

Then when we finally got to our rooms on Friday night (after traveling all day and stopping off at the pull site to drop off tractors, get them tech inspected, signing up to pull, getting them parked, and spending some time bs'ing with the guys) we had an unexpected surprise. The hotel put us in their themed suites as they were out of regular rooms (but didn't charge us any extra). How cool was that? Bill & Vicky had the 50's room and we had the Western theme. We even hat whirlpool tubs right in our rooms. They felt good after a long day.

The day of the pull, Vicky and I also entertained ourselves part of the time at a huge indoor garage sale in the building next door to the one the pull was in. Holy cow, it was packed. It took us a couple of hours just to wander through the whole thing. During that time, I ran into some girls that used to be Close To My Heart consultants. They were selling a whole bunch of the "woodies" (the wood mounted rubber stamps) from the pre-Acrylic days. Waving hello to you girls, too! I gave them my information and hopefully they'll check in and say hello.

I guess today I will be unpacking and doing laundry. Until later...

Happy Scrappin'

New stamp set and Mud Boots

That title has you wondering a little, huh?

OMG! I saw a little sneak peak into the new catalog last night from our founder Jeanette Lynton's blog. You should click on her name to take you there to check it out. She showed us one of the new stamp sets that will be in the new catalog, which goes live on May 1st. It is the cutest recipe set you've ever seen. I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on that one. I would show you a picture here, but I'm not so sure if that would be allowed or not. You need to check out her blog anyway if you have not done so. She gives us little glimpses into her 'real' life with photos of family and friends, recipes, and tidbits of this and that. She is a very wonderful woman that I have had the pleasure of meeting several times now. She is an inspiration to me-I want to be her when I grow up!

Speaking of family, remember me showing you a picture of our new little family member, Barney? Well, he has been able to stay in the house even though he has been a little schyster on more than one occasion. This morning's thing was that he was in my craft room during the night and had my sponges all over. You know, the little round sponges that I cut into wedges. I maybe am a little anal about these things, but I put them in a cheapy tackle box that I bought and label them as to the color I used them with and then just keep re-using them until they pretty much fall apart. I must have left the cover open-my mistake, I can't let that happen again.

This is what I do with my sponges. It may be a little to compulsive for some of you, but it works for me :)Barney's other latest thing is to play with Rhonda's mud boots. He knocks them over and then gets ready to pounce...
Then he just dives right into one of them. He rolls around wearing it and really kinda makes a mess in my entryway, but it's just harmless fun for him. It makes me laugh.Until later, Happy Scrappin'

Flip album and cruise layouts

What is this crazy weather going to do? I thought Spring was supposed to be here and now they are talking snow again!?! Arghh! I'm just ready for some beautiful Spring-like weather (or did we already have the 2 days we are going to get??)

Last Saturday at our team meeting we put together this beautiful Business Builder flip album. I just love it highlights all the questions that a new recruit usually asks.
It is a great tool to have in front of me when meeting with those gals who are wanting to sign up to be a consultant. If that is you, please contact me (tammyhellstern@myctmh.com) and we can set up a meeting to go over those points together. Remember, from now until the end of March is a wonderful time to sign up as you get to choose up to 2 organizational products at half price! Hurry, this offer is only good for about a week more! With the economy the way it is, why not sign up to be a consultant and add a little income to your household (and get your supplies at a discount at the same time!) It's a win/win situation :)

I have also been creating more layouts for my cruise album. I will get that one finished soon so I can start on another one (I am only 2 vacations behind right now :)
OK, I'm off to create some more today...hopefully!

Happy Scrappin'

Stimulating the economy

What a busy, but fun weekend. Saturday I went to our team meeting at a fellow "sista's house in Chippewa. What a good time we had learning, creating, and just plain being together. I love our Sisterhood, the friendships I have made, and the time we spend together. Thank you, Holly, for having us into your home this time around. I can't wait to see all you girls again real soon!

Speaking of Holly, she has come down with a bad case of "Over-do-it-itis." I think maybe I must have caught it from her...of course, I had it before I was at her house, but maybe I can blame her anyway?!? If you don't know what that is, check out her blog here and she explains it. She is a fellow CTMH consultant friend of mine and she is hilarious.

After the meeting on Saturday, I went to the craft shows that were a mere 6 blocks or so away from Holly's house. I stimulated the economy a little bit there. Then I had to head home, put up the newly purchased crafts, and then head to our high school. The Post Prom Committee (which I am a part of) was putting on a Spaghetti Dinner before the kids performed in their comedy play. I was at the school until after 9:00 that night. I was so exhausted by the time I got home that I just crashed.

Yesterday morning, I was up early and I headed into the cities with my daughter to go shopping-stimulating the economy some more! We were on a mission...we needed to find a Prom Dress for her. We were successful! We stimulated the economy AND found a beautiful dress (in her favorite color) at the same time. Isn't it gorgeous? We just need to find someone to help us shorten it up just a tad (I do not do that-we'll stimulate the economy some more and pay someone else to do it!)As soon as we got home from shopping, we headed over to my Sister-in-law's house for a birthday party for my Father-in-law. He turned 79 years young on Saturday. Here he is with my daughter. They are a couple of characters!
Well, I am off to finish a project that we started at the team meeting. If I don't do it today, we all know that it may sit there unfinished for a long time.

Happy Scrappin'

Spring, Schming!

Old Man Winter wanted to stick around a little longer, I guess. We got hit with about an inch of that awful white stuff again yesterday-the first day of spring! Thankfully it has been nice and I think the ground has warmed up because already this morning, most of it was either gone or melted down to just a coating of the stuff. I am ready for the snow to be gone and ready for Spring to be here!

Yesterday I was busy baking bars. Tonight I will be at the school as our Post Prom committee is serving a spaghetti supper. The parents of the Juniors have to donate the bars. Since I will be gone all day today for a team meeting, yesterday was baking day. Here is one of the recipes that I made (you can make them in a cake pan for more of a cake or in a jelly roll pan for more of a bar).

Cherry Chocolate Cake

1 dark chocolate cake mix
1 can cherry pie filling
3 eggs
1 tsp. almond flavoring (optional, but good)

Combine all ingredients; stir well. Pour into greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes (or until top springs back when lightly touched with finger).

Frosting

1 cup sugar
5 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup milk
Mix together and boil for one minute.
Stir in a 6 oz. pkg. of chocolate chips until pieces are melted. Spread on cool cake.

Enjoy!

Taylor Home Inn and Chinese Take-out boxes

I just returned from a trip to Mayberry, NC yesterday. OK, maybe I only went about 15 miles down the road to Clear Lake, WI, but I sure felt like I was in Mayberry at Andy and Opie's house. If you have not heard of the Taylor Home Inn, you should check out their website (www.taylorhomeinn.com). If you enjoyed the Andy Griffith Show, you really need to visit Dave and Marsha there. They have built their Bed & Breakfast to look just like the Taylor's home in Mayberry. It is truly amazing. There is Wally's Station, too if you want to sit down and have a pop. They have been busy painting downstairs and I can't wait to go back and see it. They are re-creating the Courthouse down there. If you should go there, just tell them I sent you :)

Marsha had a little project that she wanted some help with. She got her hands on some Chinese Take-out boxes and wanted to decorate them and use them as part of a little thank you gift for staying at their Inn. (Remember the episode with Aunt Bea working at the Chinese place?) I helped her with a few ideas and then we set up a Close To My Heart gathering for her. I even showed her how to make a fortune cookie out of paper. Our "Unforgettable" paper worked just perfect for this project.I am so excited, because by the time I go back, the Courthouse should be complete. Maybe I'll even get to go in Otis' cell or sit at Andy's desk!

If you want to set up your own gathering, just let me know, I would be happy to help you out. As you can see, I love lots of little challenges!

Happy Scrappin'

Cruise layouts

Finally, I was busy creating! It felt so good, I did not want to quit and go to bed last night (seems my most creative time is at night).

I do a vacation album for every vacation that we take. I usually pick a color scheme or a paper pack and use it throughout the whole album for a sense of continuity. I decided on our Majestic Blue Paper Pack for this album. I will also use the same colors (Outdoor Denim, Crystal Blue, Desert Sand, Bamboo, Cranberry, and Sunflower) throughout. Here are the first few layouts for my cruise album (for our vacation last winter...I know, I'm behind, what can I say? but it is fun to re-live that vacation again, too!)One of my goals is to get this album finished before I have to head back to work in a few weeks. Wish me luck! (or is that creativity?)

Happy Scrappin'

Scrapbook in a Purse

I know, I know, I have been missing in action for a while. I have not been very creative, but my house is clean! The Spring bug has bit and the weather has been gorgeous, so I have started walking again. Boy, I realized just how out of shape I am! Hopefully the winter weather is gone now. I don't want any more snow as ours is almost gone now-just little bits here and there now.

Since I have not been creating anything new, I thought I'd show you something old (well, not that old, but previously done). If you want the instructions on how to make this cute little project, just leave a comment here including your email address or else email me (tammyhellstern@myctmh.com) and I will sent them to you.

This is called a Scrapbook in a Purse. It is really a lot easier to make than it looks-trust me! I made this one using our Notebook Paper Pack.

It opens up like this...And this is what the inside looks like
Happy Scrappin'

Swap layouts

Oh my! We had such a fabulous time at Leslie's house yesterday for our Girl's Day Out! She is a wonderful hostess and it goes without saying that we'd have fun, but I said it anyway. Thank you, Les, for having us into your home once again for a fun day. Here is our group of girls in green.
Then, when I got home, what did I find that the mailman left for me? My swaps! Not only do I get some great recipes, but I also get some great layouts and ideas. I showed you mine a couple of posts back and here are the rest of them. Some of them I don't even know who they came from as there were not names with them :(
This one is from my friend Rachel-My friend Lynn-And my friend Val-I promptly put them all in my on-going recipe album. We have done this swap a couple of times now, so I get to just add to the album each time. This is one of our 9x9 albums that I decorated the cover of, then put one of our album covers over the top. Remember, this is in my kitchen and I actually use it so I don't want to spill anything on it to mess it up. I even made dividers for the album. I just made my pages 9x9 1/2 instead and cut most of the top 1/2 inch off, leaving a tab at the top. I wrote my titles on the tabs and inserted the dividers between the recipes so all you see is the divider at the top. It worked out great.OK, I am off to do a little house cleaning. Doesn't that sound like fun? Anyone want to come and help me?? Please???? OK, if not, then...

Happy Scrappin'

St. Patrick's Day treats

I was busy make all these little treat bags for my girlfriends on Friday. The girls from work are getting together again this Friday for lunch and I made a game for us to play. Of course we have to have goody bags for prizes. These were very simple to make, but fun.You've seen the game "Family Feud"...well, I made my own version of it using some cardstock. It looks something like this. Every question has a different color of cardstock. I made slits in the sides of the white cardstock so the strips of colored "answers" slide right in. As they guess an answer and get it correct, I will flip the strip over. I hope everyone has fun playing it. I will let you know how it goes.I also thought I would share a recipe with you. I have been making these sandwiches for years. They are so yummy and easy to make, you'll love them, too. Plus, they really aren't even bad for you (I suppose you could probably leave the butter out and they'd still be ok). A girl I worked with many years ago (no, that does not mean we're old) shared this recipe with me-thanks Carla!

Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

1 3 lb. bag boneless, skinless chicken breast (boiled and pulled apart)
1/2 stick butter
1 envelope Lipton Savory Herb & Garlic soup mix
1 1/2 tsp. chicken boullion
1 can cream of chicken soup
enough water to moisten (I use the broth from boiling the chicken)

Mix all together and serve hot on buns. This works well int he crock pot, too.

Enjoy!