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I have a great admiration for those people who do the weekly format of Project Life. I don't think I could keep it up for an entire year for a variety of reasons. 1. I don't think my life is exciting enough to take a picture everyday. 2. I would most certainly forget to take a photo everyday even if I could find something worth documenting. 3. I take the bulk of my photos at family activities. So, I just decided to make it work for me and my photos and my life. That's what's so great about Project Life. You can make it work for you. Don't misunderstand me though, I wish I was disciplined enough to take a photo a day or even do the weekly themes but I know my limitations. Maybe that can be one of my resolutions for 2014 to be better about taking a photo a day. :) Oh, I just thought of a fourth reason I could not do the weekly format. I like to jump around when I scrapbook. I need to feel in the mood to scrap a certain set of photos. Hence these two ne...

Back in the day, I used to scrapbook and forgo meals and personal hygiene. The kids were young. Their idea of a good dinner was a corndog or chicken nuggets. Hubby was always working late. I went to crops at the lss and even hosted them once a week at my house. I used to call my camera my third arm. Then something happened. I went to work as a preschool teacher. My mornings without the kiddos were now occupied. Then the afternoons got filled with baseball, soccer and scouts, etc. I found myself scrapping less and less. But I still was taking photos like crazy. That is exactly when Ms. Becky Higgins created this brilliant concept called Project Life. It's scrapping without all the fuss and muss. Its taking all your precious photos and adding gorgeous artwork and getting them into books that people can actually look at. Oh My! So, I bought the very first kit and I made a couple of pages. Then a few months go by and nothing. Now all these amazing Project Life k...

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One of our favorite fall family activities is to pick your own apples. This year we went to a quaint local place in Bethel, CT only to find that their crop was pretty much destroyed by a hail storm. We still managed to pick enough apples to feed a small army. In addition to the usual apple crisp, this year I decided to make apple butter as well. And since I have been determined to use my crockpot more often, I searched for a slow cooker apple butter recipe. I didn't have to look very far. I found the perfect one at www.mybakingaddiction.com. It was simple yet delicious!! I had quite the stash when all was said and done so I gifted some to friends and family. Slow Cooker Apple Butter October 17th, 2011 Yield: 4 pints Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 12 hours Ingredients: 6 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and sliced 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon fr...

1,2 1,2 Check, check. Is this thing on? Just making sure it still works. ;)

I love spring cleaning. I really do. I actually look forward to it. And much to my delight, my favorite organzing pro, Marcia Ramsland, sent thru an e mail with tons of valuable spring cleaning tips. I hope she inspires you as much as she does me. Enjoy! What is Spring Cleaning? Spring Cleaning is all about moving out the dust and cobwebs of winter to welcome sunshine and spring breezes to freshen your home inside. It is the process of transforming the dinginess of winter into the springtime feeling of a clean house. Whether you spend one day or one month at it, you can make an impact by jumping into spring cleaning purposefully. Where Do I Begin? The best way to begin is to work by “Priority Rooms,” those rooms that will make a positive visual and emotional impact on you. Pick a specific area and schedule one to three hours there. Post a large sign of declaration to stay on track. “Today I am Spring Cleaning the Family Room 9-11:30 a.m.!” Follow these simple spring...

I am a list maker through and through. I often say...if it's not on list, then it doesn't get done. Sometimes I have several going at once...a daily one and a weekly or even a monthly one. And nothing gives me greater pleasure than being able to cross things off my list and eventually toss the daily one in the garbage. :) I am not too hard on myself tho if I do not cross everything off, I just move it to the next day. I recently received this e mail on to-do lists from the organizing guru herself, Marcia Ramsland that I thought I'd share with you. It is jam-packed with great to-do list pointers. Enjoy! A written to-do list is the secret to clearing your mind of mental clutter and accomplishing more each day. When the list is more than a day’s worth of actions, it is actually considered a “Master List.” Marcia’s Time Slotted To-Do List: When you start listing items on your to-do list, you have three choices: you can put to-dos in the order they occur to ...

Every year we like to go to u pick farms in our area. Even though we have our favorites, we still like to find new ones to try. This year we tried Evergreen Farms in Watertown, CT for the very first time. They had blueberries and black raspberries. YUM! Here are some scenes from the day. :) Enjoy! I know we will be enjoying blueberry muffins and pie and pancakes for the next week. :) The neck pails they give you to store your bounty in. :) The happy pickers. ;) The berries:

Here is what my kitchen table looks like this summer. The table runner is from Target and I absolutely love love love the vibrant happy colors. The candle & candle holder which holds my current favorite scent, carribean salsa, are from Bath & Body Works. And all the rest hails from HomeGoods. :)

I have always wanted a Lazy Susan for my kitchen table but the problem was finding the right size and color. After much searching, I broke down and bought a cheap one from Target for $7.99 and decided to spray paint it. I went for Heirloom White to match the chairs. I think it turned out pretty good. WDYT? Before: After: Next up...the stuff that goes on top. :)

If you are looking for a really delicious and easy recipe to take to parties this summer, then this is the one for you. I made these yesterday to take to a pool party and they were yummy! My hubby actually asked me if I made them or just heated them up!? LOL! Tray is from Ikea. It's my new fave. It's long enough to hold lots of goodies. :) Recipe: 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed 1 small zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 3-inch matchstick-thin strips 1 small red pepper, cut into 3-inch matchstick-thin strips Directions: Heat the oven to 400°F. Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice and black pepper in a medium bowl. Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 10x12-inch rectangle...

I am a part-time knitter for sure. And I have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to my knitting projects. If it's not a gift and I don't have a deadline, it can linger on for months. But that doesn't stop me from buying more yarn. :O So, as you can imagine, I have a yarn stash that has gotten out of control over the last few months. The little basket that I bought to house my yarn is beyond overflowing. It is littered with bags and bags of unfinished projects and new yarn. I have been on the hunt for a lidded basket that doesn't look like a laundry basket. It is has been harder than I thought. Then today while I was perusing the aisles of AC Moore for wooden letters, I saw a big but not too big basket that would work and it was 50% off. Well, when I got to the register, it ended up being $5.00! The original price was $14.99. I was stoked over the bargain even though I had to climb the shelves myself to get it. Everytime I go in there, I swear I ...

Here they are... They were a hit. So much so that my Mom was jealous. LOL! For my Dad... For my hubby...

This year I wanted to do something really special for my father and my husband this Father's Day. So, I came up with this inexspensive photo idea. I hit Michael's today armed with a 50% coupon for 1 regular priced item and a 20% off my total order one. I picked up unfinished wood letters for $1.99 each and a heart for 99 cents. The paint was 2 for $1.00. I always have foam brushes so no cost there. And I picked up a 3 photo black frame on super sale at Kohl's for under $10.00 and a wood desk frame on clearance for $6.99 at Michael's. My photos were even 25% off after I used a special Father's Day coupon code for CVS. My supplies: Here they are painted: The photos: The frames: As soon as I pick up the photos from CVS, I'll share the finished product. The photos should be ready in 30 minutes. :)

What You Need: 3 qt. (12 cups) cold club soda 1 can (12 oz.) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed 2 pkt. (makes 2 qt. drink) CRYSTAL LIGHT Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix* 1 qt. (4 cups) raspberry sherbet Make It: ADD club soda and concentrate to drink mix in punch bowl; stir until mix is completely dissolved. SCOOP sherbet into punch just before serving. *NOTE: CRYSTAL LIGHT Packets come in two sizes. Please note packet size before preparing recipe. Kraft Kitchens TipsSpecial Extra Sherbet adds color and flavor, as well as acts as ice cubes to chill the punch. To Halve: This recipe can easily be halved. Prepare as directed, cutting all ingredients in half. Makes 9 servings, 1 cup each. Substitute: Prepare using 4 pkt. (makes 1 qt. drink each) CRYSTAL LIGHT Lemonade Flavor Drink

Show your colors for Flag Day or 4th of July with a fun and festive dessert. Raspberries, blueberries and creamy filling are the red, white and blue toppings on the easy cookie crust. Prep Time: 20 Min Total Time: 1 Hr 35 Min Makes: 24 servings INGREDIENTS: 1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated sugar cookies 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened 1/4cup powdered sugar 2teaspoons grated lemon peel 2cups fresh raspberries 1 1/2cups fresh blueberries 1/4cup apple jelly, melted. DIRECTIONS: 1 Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12-inch pizza pan with cooking spray. Cut cookie dough into 1/4-inch slices; place in pan. With floured fingers, press evenly over bottom to form crust. 2 Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 25 minutes. 3 In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and lemon peel until fluffy. Spread over baked crust. Arrange raspberries in large star shape in center. Arrange blueberries around raspberries. Drizzle or bru...

for the end of the school year. Just put a lollipop stick into a marshmallow. Dip it in melted chocolate. And decorate it with nonpariels. :) Add a cute tag and some curling ribbon and voila a sweet treat for teachers and friends. :)

I love flea markets. You just never know what little gem you are going to find. And luckily for me the whole family loves them as well. We happen to have a pretty good one not too far from us in Stormville. It is a mix of old and new and they have a great food court too. My son hunts for baseball cards he needs. My hubby digs for rare records. And my daughter loves the jewels and gems. And, it was because of her, that I got this fabulous necklace and earring set. It was marked $24.00 but the lady gave it to me for $20.00 without me even asking. :) Yay! I plan to wear it on Easter Sunday. :)

A sweet treat for the Easter table or a spring party, these cookies couldn't be easier, starting with refrigerated sugar cookies and purchased frosting. Prep Time: 45 Min Total Time: 45 Min Makes: 24 INGREDIENTS: 1package (16 oz) Pillsbury® Ready To Bake!™ refrigerated sugar cookies (24 cookies) 1container (12 oz) fluffy white frosting 1cup flaked coconut Food color Jelly beans DIRECTIONS: Bake cookies as directed on package. Cool completely, about 10 minutes. Frost cookies. Add coconut to a 1-quart resealable food-storage plastic bag. Add 2 to 3 drops favorite food color, shaking bag to blend color. It may be necessary to add 1 to 2 teaspoons water to help disperse the color evenly or additional food color until desired color is reached. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon coconut on each cookie. Top with jelly beans or candy coated chocolate peanut candy. High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) Nutrition Information: 1 Serving (1 cookie)Calories 160(Calories fr...

■1 (super moist) lemon cake mix ■2 eggs ■1/3 cup vegetable oil ■2 tbsp lemon zest ■2 tbsp lemon juice ■1 tsp lemon extract ■white sugar for coating ■confectioners’ sugar for coating 1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2.Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in eggs, oil, lemon zest, lemon juice and lemon extract until well blended. Drop cookie scoops of dough into a bowl of regular ‘ol white sugar (this will help the confectioners sugar stick). Toss the sugar over the ball of dough until coated. Move the ball into the bowl of confectioners sugar, toss ‘em around more. Once sugared, put them on an non-stick (or lined with parchment) cookie sheet. 3.Bake for 6 to 9 minutes in the preheated oven or until the edges are lightly browned. I had to keep mine in for 10 minutes. I guess the timing depends on your oven. They were so good that I am making them again for company on Easter Sunday. :) Enjoy!