What's New and Lots of Thoughts!

What's new and going on in your life right now?  Something happened on Wednesday and it showed me that there are still kids out there who are decent and good, more than we probably imagine.  We were all getting  back from picking MaryAnn and Sophia up from school.   We get to the door and hear a crash.  Me and Mare say what the heck was that? I told her to go inside with the kids I'd look.  I get down the driveway and two doors down I see a person has fallen off a Vespa type bike.  I can't tell if its man woman young or old yet.  Walking over I'm asking if they're ok when he looks up I see his face is bleeding right under his eye pretty badly.  He's about sixteen and scraped up bad on his hands too.  I made him come in to wash and gave him some water.  He was so grateful saying thank you and how could I ever repay you, I told him not to worry just go home and if something is hurting to have his parents take him to the dr.  The next morning getting back from bringing Santino to school there's a thank you note in our door from him saying thanks for letting him into our home to clean up.  I hope that if something happened to one of my children  there would be someone to do the same.
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I've been working on a few projects just about at the same time scrap-wise.   One is a Christmas mini  inspired by Jennifer Priest at Hydrangea-hippo.  She does gorgeous work and I lifted it a bit to put together this mini that is almost finished.  I used a combo of papers, g45, reminisce, imaginations, just stuff that's been in my stash.  I also started a mini for my sis-in-law for her birthday that she can put her Italy pics in from their summer vacation.   I REALLY meed to finish the 50th anniversary album for my sis in law.  She brought it back home with her and I need to get to it.  I also have a cute little Fourth of July mini that's just about done.

Here's a bit of a peek at these, I'll show the rest when they're done -

Christmas mini, I also got to use my bind-it-all for the first time!!!  Loved it, and I am into layering layering layering now.

The shapes were made with paper from an old book and my cricut.

 This is for my sis-in-law, made with yellow envelopes, inspired by Laura Denison of The Paper Trail

I used Bo-bunny's Liberty line for this album that I started back in September and is just about finished.

All this falls into the category of  my word for the year.  That little Ali Edwards project she does.  Now, I'm not going all out like she does with those who're joining her, but my word is dedication and I need to be dedicated to finishing projects.  I also have to be dedicated to cleaning out the playroom and my scrap closet, Holy Moly!!!

I have been SO lax in my lo making.  I haven't done one in months, really focusing on minis and I really need to get back on track with that, though I have another mini idea of quotes I've been saving that I think would  be so  nice.

For those who are scrap addicts like me or crafters, CHA - or the Craft and Hobby Association convention, is coming here to sunny so cal in just a few days.  You can't IMAGINE how it kills me that that damn thing is less than an hour from my home!!!  Every scrap rock star is there and I so wish I could go.  That sucker costs something like $150 to get into and you must be in the biz : (

Many of the designers have been giving sneak peeks on their websites as to what will be new in their line this year.  I have been drooling for days now.  Tim Holtz has been teamed up with Sizzix for a few years  and something absolutely amazing is coming, Sizzix's electronic die cutter, the e-clips, their "cricut" if you will, has made a cartridge to go with Tim"s amazing stamps.  Whats the biggie you ask, well you stamp the image on your card stock, then you lay the clear template over it make little black dots in the 2 corners remove  template line up the dots with the e-clips blade cutter and viola your stamped image that would take you 10 minutes to fussy cut by hand with your exacto and not be half as neat is cut out in a minute perfectly!!!   Don't believe me, check out this youtube video -



Is that not freakin phenomenal?!  Could you imagine just stamping an image and your machine  cutting it perfect for you in a snap?  Of  course I had to comment on both his blog and on Cricut's forum about this saying along the lines of, ya know how there are the same video games for PS3  Xbox and the Wii?  Only problem, I think Tim is exclusive to Sizzix, and the technology the e-clips has for this, the cricut does not.  It would require a new upgraded Expression and I've invested more than enough $$$ in these machines and the cartridges they need for you to  cut the various shapes, so barring me hitting the lottery, my little exacto blade will have to do.
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I have found some really great recipes on Pinterest that I want to share!!  That site is just fantastic, I love it.

One is for crack potatoes, this dish is YUMMY!!  No wonder its called crack potatoes.   The only thing I changed was using actual bacon instead of bits.  It's cheaper and tastes better : )

Crack Potatoes or Loaded Potato Casserole

2 (16oz) containers sour cream
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
2 (3oz) bags real bacon bits
2 packages Ranch Dip mix
1 large (28 - 30oz) bag frozen hash brown potatoes - shredded kind

Combine first 4 ingredients, mix in hash browns.  Spread into a 9x13 pan.  Bake at 400 for 45-60 minutes.

The next is for slow cooker pork carnitas, another goodie!  My family loved it.

Pork  carnitas
serves 6.

2 pounds pork shoulder
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 1 large orange)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 large lime)
7 cloves garlic (whole intact)
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon cumin
1/2 cup beef broth
corn tortillas
sour cream, salsa, sliced avocado (optional)

The Directions.

Use a 6 quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, combine the salt and cumin. Rub mixture all over the pork, then plop into the slow cooker. Add whole garlic cloves. Squeeze on the citrus, and pour the beef broth evenly over the top.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the pork shreds quite easily with a fork. If your meat is still fully intact after 8 hours, remove and cut into chunks, then return to the crock and flip to high for about an hour or two.
Shred meat fully and serve on warmed corn tortillas with desired toppings.

Now this one I haven't tried yet but it sounds just so darn good!

Homemade Oreos

Cookies:
1 Devils Food Cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil

Filling:
4 oz cream cheese
¼ cup butter
1 ½ cups powder sugar*
½ teaspoon vanilla

Yield: 24 cookies, 12 sandwiches

Directions:
1.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.    Mix Devil’s food cake mix, eggs, and oil together.  The dough will be very thick.
3.    On a greased cookie sheet or on parchment paper, place dough balls about the size of a golf ball.  You will need to make sure they are round and then pat them down with your fingers.
4.    Bake for 7-10 minutes.  Wait until just after they start to “crack” on the top.
5.    Let cool on sheet for 2-3 minutes and then remove.
6.   Filling: Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth.  Add vanilla. Add as much powdered sugar as desired.
7.    Refrigerate filling in Tupperware or in a piping bag until firm and cookies are cooled.
8.   Frost cookies and make into sandwiches.
9.   Refrigerate cookies for at least 2 hours and serve chilled.  Trust me, this makes them much better.

*I don’t measure my powdered sugar, I just taste test while I put it in.  So depending on if you want the filling to taste more like cream cheese or sugar, adjust your amount.
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if you try any let me know what  ya think.

On a side note can you believe January is almost done what the heck, where is the time going?!

Have a great weekend : )